Austrailia Fishermen Joining the Shark Finning Frenzy

Sharks are de-finned at Coffs Harbour.

Photo: Lee Besford

Fears for shark species as fin market grows

A DRAMATIC increase in shark fishing, fuelled by the lucrative shark fin market, is threatening already endangered species along the NSW coast.

Long-line fishing methods used by shark fishermen are believed to be responsible for indiscriminate shark catches environment groups say are endangering populations of grey nurse sharks, classified as critically endangered, and the vulnerable great white shark.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/fears-...6530673607.html

______________________________________________________________

Austrailia which is now aggressively combatting Asian's illegally finning in their waters, may just be saving the shark fin profits for Austrailian fishermen. Why does Austrailia continue to disappoint so much when it comes to species conservation?

Why does Austrailia continue to disappoint so much when it comes to species conservation?

Because our fisheries have a stranglehold on the marine species management and their out-dated MO is exploitation of a resource and not conservation

Divers here have been fighting against the NSW fisheries to get fishing excluded for a recommended 1500m around several key aggregation sites. They are determined not to implement protection from fishing (choosing in the last couple of years to focus on controlling divers & uw photographers) despite their own science showing fishing is the only key threatening process for the GNS :glare: