Plans to promote shark conservation launched
dubai — The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCAE) has launched the National Plan of Action (NPOA) for the management of sharks and promote shark conservation and sustainability in the UAE.
The NPOA provides an overview of the current status of the cartilaginous fish in the country with a special focus on sharks and rays. At present, there are 43 shark species and 29 ray species recorded in the UAE waters, with 42 per cent of these considered endangered as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of threatened species.
The plan identifies the challenges that have led to a decline in shark stocks, most notably fishing (commercial and recreational), land and sea-based pollution, coastal development, habitat alteration, and climate change.
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.
Hiba Al Shehhi, acting director of the biodiversity department at MoCCAE, said: “The NPOA is part of the ministry’s strategy to preserve the UAE’s biodiversity, and ensure the long-term survival of sharks and rays.”
She outlined the indicators for
The NPOA is part of the ministry’s strategy to preserve the UAE’s biodiversity, and ensure the long-term survival of sharks and rays.” Hiba Al Shehhi, acting director of the biodiversity department, MoCCAE
measuring the effectiveness of the NPOA, such as community awareness about the importance of shark conservation, status of the shark population, improved management of marine protected areas, and the extinction risk faced by individual shark species.
The ministry also issued the UAE Shark Assessment Report, the first national overview of shark research and protective measures in the UAE.
Following its four-year implementation timeline (2018-2021), the NPOA will undergo a consultative revision to enable an adaptive management approach, and ensure the attainment of its strategic objectives and overall vision. The plan is available to the public on the ministry’s website.