NOAA Fisheries announces a proposed rule to consider prohibiting the commercial and recreational retention of oceanic whitetip sharks in U.S. waters of the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, and all hammerhead sharks in the large coastal shark (LCS) complex (great, smooth, and scalloped hammerhead sharks) in the U.S. Caribbean region.
What Will The NOAA Proposed Rule Do?
Under the proposed rule, NOAA Fisheries would add oceanic whitetip sharks to the prohibited shark species group (effective in U.S. waters of the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea) and prohibit the commercial and recreational retention of LCS hammerhead sharks (great, smooth, and scalloped hammerhead sharks) in the U.S. Caribbean region.
What Does This Mean?
NOAA Fisheries Management under HMS (Atlantic Highly Migratory Species) is proposing a law that will prohibit the commercial and recreational fishing of Oceanic Whitetip Sharks and Hammerhead sharks in US ocean waters. No fisherman regardless of permit will be able to retain, possess or land either species of shark. The Oceanic Whitetip Shark and the Hammerhead Shark are listed as threatened species according to the ESA (Endangered Species Act). This legislation will be discussed in an open forum for public comment on April 25th. Written comments should be submitted by May 22nd.
Why Is This Happening?
Both of these sharks have been declared as ‘threatened’ under ESA (Endangered Species Act). So, this proposed legislation meets the criteria established by Amendment 1 of the 1999 FMP (Fishery Management Plan) for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks species to be placed on the prohibited shark species group.
To be placed under the prohibited shark species group, the sharks must not be observed in the quantities they used to be seen in. Oceanic Whitetip and Hammerhead sharks warrant protection because while once abundant in Atlantic Waters, their numbers are now dwindling. Due to their threatened status, the most effective conservation strategy is that it is recommended both species be placed on the HMS list of prohibited shark species for recreational and/or commercial HMS fisheries.
This effort would work to further conserve and rebuild the population numbers of both shark species which desperately need help rebuilding.
Public Hearing
A webinar for this rulemaking will take place on April 25, 2023. Information for registering and accessing the webinar can be found on the NOAA Fisheries website. You will need Web Ex to listen in.
Why Should You Care About Oceanic Whitetip & Hammerhead Sharks?
While popular media has vilified shark species, they are actually keystone species within their expansive ocean niche. The title of keystone species means other species in the ecosystem heavily depend on the presence of sharks to maintain ecosystem equilibrium; if they were to be removed, the entire ecosystem would be altered.
Sharks regulate numerous species of fish, aquatic mammals and reptiles from becoming too abundant and depleting ocean resources such as kelp, sea grass and other fish species. Helping preserve these species with shark conservation efforts including rebuilding their numbers would lead to an improvement in the overall health and function of the ocean ecosystem.
The oceans produce more oxygen than all the rainforests combined, remove almost 1/3 of the atmosphere’s manmade carbon dioxide, and control our planet’s temperature and weather. The health of, not just the oceans, but the entire planet, depends on healthy and thriving shark populations.
Who Is Affected?
- All commercial and recreational HMS permit holders, and
- Any dealers who buy or sell Atlantic sharks.
How Can You Help Sharks?
Sign onto this letter of support by adding your name to our petition. We will send this letter to NOAA by May 20, 2023 to be included in the public comments.
Dear NOAA, we support this proposed rule that will prohibit the commercial and recreational retention of Oceanic Whitetip Sharks in U.S. waters of the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, and all hammerhead sharks in the large coastal shark (LCS) complex (great, smooth, and scalloped hammerhead sharks) in the U.S. Caribbean region.