On April 17, President Trump issued an executive order would open large U.S.- marine protected areas to commercial fishing. The order authorized the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and US Fish and Wildlife Service to implement US-based fishing in the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument. The proclamation threatens Pacific Island heritage, endangered species, and some of the healthiest coral reefs and marine ecosystems in the world.
Read MoreHope for Sharks and Marine Habitat
Shark Newsletter December 24, 2024 View this email in your browser This year, as part of our Kahu Manō campaign to reduce retention and bycatch of critically endangered sharks, Shark […]
Read MoreSupport Pacific Island Marine Sanctuaries
In the next three years we have our sights on increasing marine protection in US waters through the creation of two new National Marine Sanctuaries: one in California with the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, and one in Hawaii with the creation of the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary. Creating the proposed Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary within the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Monument and the Pacific Remote Islands National Marine Sanctuary (PRINMS). These Sanctuary designations will provide stricter protection and can avoid challenges from future administrations stripping marine and cultural protection for resource extraction.
Read MoreBiden Moves to Create New Sanctuary in South Pacific Ocean
Shark Stewards, along with several other organizations, is urging managers of the Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA to support increased protection of migratory species and pelagic and reef species of sharks and rays as part of the draft Monument Management Plan, expected by the end of 2023.
The coral reefs of the and marine ecosystems of the Pacific Islands support healthy wildlife, provide climate resilience, and provide a variety of cultural and socio-economic benefits. We must act now to support these important efforts protecting vanishing wildlife and imperiled coral reefs.
Read MoreWalking Sharks, Glowing Sharks- February News
Sometime in the Spring or Summer of 2023, Japan’s TEPCO intends to dump 1.3 million tons of radioactive waste water from the Fukushima nuclear meltdown into the Pacific ocean.
Walking Sharks Protected in Indonesia
Read MoreGear Changes in Pacific Fleet Shine Ray of Hope for Critically Endangered Sharks
An announcement in 2020 by the Hawaii Longline Association to ban the use of wire leaders in the tuna fleet’s fishing equipment paved the way to help save the imperiled oceanic whitetip shark from extinction.
Read MoreYear End Report 2022
Shark Stewards had a tremendously successful year in 2022.
We want to thank our board members, supporters and volunteers for helping us continue to save sharks and their habitat in 2023!
Pacific Fisheries Managers Move to Protect Sharks
In a surprising decision, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission has outlawed shark lines and wire leaders, both of which are used by industrial-scale fishers targeting sharks and leading to major declines in Pacific shark populations.
Read MoreTrump Places Pacific Marine Protected Areas at Risk
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has recommended that President Trump modify 10 national monuments created under the last 3 administrations, shrinking the boundaries of at least four western sites, and three marine monuments. Specifically, the leak indicates that the administration has direct target to reduce or eliminate protections for the Utah Bears Ears Monument and the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument and four others.
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