43 shark and 29 ray species to be protected

MINISTRY WORKING ON CONSERVATION PLAN AMID DECLINING STOCKS

Faced with declining shark stocks in Gulf waters, the UAE is moving to further protect up to 43 shark and 29 ray species from continued over-harvesting with an action plan.

Shark populations have been in decline for years due to overfishing, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in a statement yesterday while announcing a new conservation plan to bolster and protect existing fish stocks over the next four years.

“Shark populations in the country have witnessed a decline in recent years as a result of over-fishing, mainly due to the high value of their fins, meat, and gill plates,” said the ministry in a statement.

“At present, there are 43 shark species and 29 ray species recorded in the UAE’s waters, with 42 per cent of these considered endangered as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.”

Yesterday, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment launched its ‘National Plan of Action for Conservation and Management of Sharks 2018-2021’ that presents concrete steps to promote shark conservation and sustainability in the UAE. The ministry will focus on shark community awareness, shark population numbers, improved management of marine protected areas, and extinction risk faced by individual shark species.