Tactical Research Fund: Shark futures - a synthesis of available data on Mako and Porbeagle sharks in Australasian waters - current status and future directions

Funded Activity Summary

The shortfin mako, longfin mako and porbeagle sharks have widespread distributions in temperate and tropical waters of all the world’s oceans. Makos are bycatch and by-product species of pelagic longline and gillnet fisheries where they are taken for their meat and high-value fins. They are also highly-prized recreational species in many regions. Makos have low productivity, typical of sharks that do not mature until reaching a large size, producing few young and where individuals are unlikely to reproduce annually. Risk assessments both nationally and in the Atlantic concluded that mako sharks are at the highest risk of all pelagic sharks. These species are listed by the IUCN as Vulnerable globally and Critically Endangered in the Mediterranean. Significant population declines in the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic resulted in these species being listed under Appendix II of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) in 2008 and concomitant listing under Australia’s EPBC Act in January 2010. This effectively meant that the target commercial or recreational fishing for these species was prohibited in Australian waters. In May 2010 the National Recreational Mako Shark Fishery - Management Forum identified the need for a study to identify and propose cost effective ways to fill key gaps in the collective knowledge of these species. In July 2010, after considerable debate, a legislative amendment was made to allow for the recreational fishing of mako and porbeagle sharks in Commonwealth areas despite the offence provisions under the EPBC Act. Commercial targeting of these species remains an offence, however, there are exemptions where they are taken as bycatch under accredited management plans. The Federal Environment Minister also directed DEWHA/SEWPaC to work with Fisheries Managers to provide a “more comprehensive information base on mako and porbeagle sharks for the future”. This project is a direct result of these needs.

Objectives:
1. Identify and collate existing data sets on mako and porbeagle sharks in Australasian waters including data on the geographic distribution and magnitude of current and historical catch (commercial and recreational), demographic parameters, behaviour, movement patterns, habitat associations, diet and trophic interactions and impacts of fishing, including who holds these data.
2. Identify and provide a national framework of coordination and cooperation for current and future research on mako and porbeagle sharks that will contribute towards improving understanding and reduce uncertainty in these parameters.
3. Identify key gaps in our collective knowledge of these species and opportunities for sustained, long-term programs for data collection.
4. Work with managers, policy makers, researchers as well as commercial and recreational sectors to identify cost-effective ways to address these gaps in a coordinated national and regional approach that aligns with the needs for management and policy.
5. Improve communication and coordination between research providers, State and Commonwealth management agencies and the recreational and commercial sectors on data collection and data synthesis for these species to facilitate cost effective science-support for management and policy decision making.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 28-12-2011

End Date: 01-11-2012

Funding Scheme: Funding Scheme not available

Funding Amount: $69,533.00

Funder: Fisheries Research and Development Corporation

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

There are no FoR codes available for this funding activity

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Behaviour | Data | Fisheries Management | Habitat | Migration | Nutrition | Oceanography | Population Dynamics | Recreational Fishing | Wild Catch

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