Líffræðifélag Íslands - biologia.is
Líffræðiráðstefnan 2017

Erindi/veggspjald / Talk/poster E74

Sharks are Causing Headaches in the World of Fisheries Science and Management

Höfundar / Authors: Steven Campana

Starfsvettvangur / Affiliations: Life and Environmental Science, University of Iceland

Kynnir / Presenter: Steven Campana

Although sharks may never become the poster child for marine conservationists, they have certainly come a long ways from their original role as Demons of the Sea. Nevertheless, some big issues continue to confound and complicate the science, assessment and management of sharks. Among the most pressing scientific difficulties are those associated with the age determination of sharks, whether it’s consistent age underestimation of great whites and mako sharks, or 400-year overestimates for Greenland sharks. In the world of stock assessment and fisheries management, we are now realizing that the High Seas (the waters outside of national boundaries) are killing grounds for hundreds of thousands of large sharks annually, most of which are never reported. In this talk, I will highlight the big issues challenging shark science and management in the current world, and outline some realistic solutions to avoid the demise of these charismatic creatures.