Question NW2808 to the Minister of Environmental Affairs
24 August 2015 - NW2808
Singh, Mr N to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs
Whether scientific research is being undertaken by her department in order to set sustainable quotas that will ensure the conservation of the Blacktip Shark, Bronze Whaler Shark and Dusky Shark in South Africa’s fishing waters, as approximately 500 tonnes of the specified species are being caught annually without adequate scientific research supporting exploitation to such an extent; if not, why not; if so, what are the full relevant details?
Reply:
The Department of Environmental Affairs does not undertake research in order to set sustainable quotas for sharks but does undertake some research on specific aspects of shark ecology which includes tagging sharks to describe the extent of the distribution ranges.
The estimated annual catches of these species as documented by research of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries are given as: Blacktip 1-10 tons, Dusky 11-100 tons, Bronze Whaler 101-200 tons. The sum of the upper ranges of these estimates is 310 tons, short of 500 tons. The setting of fishing quotas is the function of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries which undertakes research in support of shark fishery management.
---ooOoo---