General conservation measures for sharks
1. Union fishing vessels shall take all reasonable steps to apply the IOTC identification guides and handling practices.
2. Union fishing vessels shall, to the extent possible, promptly release unharmed unwanted shark species caught alive on board of vessels, with the exception of blue sharks. Such catches shall be reported in the logbook in accordance with Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, including the status on release (dead or alive).
3. Member States shall report data on all catches of sharks, including all available historical data, estimates and life status of discards and release (dead or alive) and size frequencies of sharks caught by their fishing vessels to the Commission, in accordance with Article 51(1).
Oceanic whitetip sharks
1. Union fishing vessels shall not retain on board, tranship, land, store, sell or offer for sale any part or whole carcass of oceanic whitetip sharks ( Carcharhinus longimanus ).
2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, scientific observers shall be allowed to collect biological samples from oceanic whitetip sharks taken in the Area that are dead at haul back, provided that the samples are a part of a research project approved by the IOTC Scientific Committee or the IOTC Working Party on Ecosystems and Bycatch.
3. Where possible, Member States and the Commission shall endeavour to conduct research on oceanic whitetip sharks taken in the Area, in order to identify potential nursery areas.
Thresher sharks
1. Union fishing vessels shall not retain on board, tranship, land, store, sell or offer for sale any part or whole carcass of thresher sharks of all species of the family Alopiidae .
2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, scientific observers shall be allowed to collect biological samples from thresher sharks taken in the Area that are dead at haul back, provided that the samples are a part of a research project approved by the IOTC Scientific Committee or the IOTC Working Party on Ecosystems and Bycatch.
3. Recreational and sport fishers shall release all thresher sharks alive. Under no circumstances shall they retain them on board, tranship, land, store, sell or offer them for sale. Member States shall ensure that recreational and sport fishers carrying out fishing with risk of catching thresher sharks are equipped with instruments suitable for releasing the animals alive.
4. Member States and the Commission shall endeavour to conduct research on thresher sharks taken in the Area, in order to identify potential nursery areas.
Mobulid rays
1. Union fishing vessels shall be prohibited from intentionally setting any gear type around a mobulid ray (species of the genus Mobula ) if the animal is sighted prior to commencement of the set.
2. Union fishing vessels shall not retain on board, tranship, land, store, sell or offer for sale any part or whole carcass of a mobulid ray.
3. Union fishing vessels shall promptly release alive and unharmed, to the extent practicable, mobulid rays caught unintentionally as soon as they are seen in the net, on the hook, or on the deck, in a manner that will result in the least possible harm to the individual rays captured. They shall take all reasonable steps to apply handling procedures for mobulid rays, while taking into consideration the safety of the crew.
4. Notwithstanding paragraph 3, where a Union purse seine vessel unintentionally catches and freezes a mobulid ray in the course of its operations, it shall surrender the whole mobulid ray to the responsible governmental authorities, or other competent authority, or discard it at the point of landing. Mobulid rays surrendered in that manner may not be sold or bartered but may be donated for the purposes of domestic human consumption.
5. Union fishing vessels shall use proper mitigation, identification, handling and releasing techniques and keep on board all necessary equipment to release mobulid rays.
Whale sharks
1. Union fishing vessels shall be prohibited from intentionally setting a purse seine net around a whale shark ( Rhincodon typus ) in the Area, if it is sighted prior to the commencement of the set.
2. Where a whale shark is unintentionally encircled or entangled in the fishing gear, Union fishing vessels shall:
(a)
take all reasonable steps to ensure its safe release, in line with available IOTC Scientific Committee’s best practice guidelines for the safe release and handling of whale sharks, while taking into consideration the safety of the crew;
(b)
report the incident to the vessel’s flag Member State, with the following information:
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the number of individuals;
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a short description of the interaction, including details of how and why the interaction occurred, if possible;
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the location of the encirclement;
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the steps taken to ensure safe release; and
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an assessment of the life status of the whale shark on release, including whether it was released alive but subsequently died.
Source: EUR-Lex (Publications Office of the EU), © European Union, reuse permitted under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.
