Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has decided to change the law so Australia can avoid its international obligations and allow threatened sharks to be caught and killed in our waters. This follows lobbying from recreational fishing and charter boat operators, WWF-Australia and TRAFFIC warned today.
Minister Garrett has decided not to list the porbeagle, longfin mako and shortfin mako sharks under Australia’s Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC), despite current legislation requiring this when a species is listed under the Convention for Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS).
All three sharks were recently added to the international convention following warnings from scientists that populations of these species could collapse from overfishing.
The Government now intends to change its commitment by amending the EPBC legislation when Parliament sits next week, potentially removing protection for other migratory species.
"Australia is a longstanding signatory of the Convention for Conservation of Migratory Species and has committed to protect listed species with Australian legislation – applying the EPBC act to those species as they migrate through our waters," said Mr Glenn Sant, Global Marine Program Leader of TRAFFIC (WWF’s Wildlife Trade Network) and a Vice-Chair of the IUCN Shark Specialist Group.
"We are deeply concerned that the Australian Government has decided not to offer these species any increased protection despite the fact that they have been internationally listed under the CMS and recognised as globally vulnerable on the IUCN red list."
Recent reports indicate that mako catch rates in the Western Central Pacific have been steadily declining. In Australian waters, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority has also identified one mako species as potentially at high risk from fishing.
"These figures bring into question the Australian Government’s claims this week that there is no cause for concern for these species," Mr Sant said.
"We are deeply worried that changing the EPBC Act could potentially remove protection from other migratory species that pass through our territory. The Government must explain clearly to Australians what the implications of any such change would be. This is no trivial matter."
The changes to the EPBC Act are being made despite Federal Government policy stating that Australia manages its fisheries using the precautionary principle.
"If this government is serious about living up to its own policy and the obligations it has signed on for, it should stop the hunting of these listed species until a complete review of their status in Australian waters has been carried out," Mr Sant said.
"This decision should concern all Australians. It sends a message that protecting threatened migratory species in Australian waters is not a priority.
More information
Alvin Stone, WWF-Australia. Ph: 8202 1259. Mbl: 0410 221 068. Email: [email protected]