Publication Abstract

Management of shark fisheries in the Northeast Atlantic

M.G. Pawson and M.R. Vince

An overview is provided of the situation in the Northeast Atlantic regarding the management of shark fisheries. The following topics are covered: 1) The resource; 2) Species composition of elasmobranch fisheries; 3) Geographical range and migration; 4) Distribution of fisheries directed at elasmobranchs; 5) Elasmobranchs as bycatch; 6) Associated species either as bycatch or discards; 7) Development and current status of the fisheries -- historical development of the fishery and its present status in general terms, evolution of catch, fleet characteristics, evolution of the fleet and fishing effort; 8) Markets -- shark products, revenues from the fishery, economics of the fishery, the fisheries workforce. Management objectives, management policies and the policy setting process, and the management planning process are examined. Fishery management regulations, law and enforcement, management success and management costs are also discussed.

Reference:

M.G. Pawson and M.R. Vince, 1999. Management of shark fisheries in the Northeast Atlantic. pp 1-46 In: Case studies of the management of elasmobranch fisheries. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper no. 378. Rome.