Abstract
Shark fishing, driven by the fin trade, is the primary cause of global shark population declines. Here, we present a case study that exemplifies how industrial fisheries are likely depleting shark populations in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean. In August 2017, the vessel Fu Yuan Yu Leng 999, of Chinese flag, was detained while crossing through the Galápagos Marine Reserve without authorization. This vessel contained 7639 sharks, representing one of the largest seizures recorded to date. Based on a sample of 929 individuals (12%), we found 12 shark species: 9 considered as Vulnerable or higher risk by the IUCN and 8 listed in CITES. Four species showed a higher proportion of immature than mature individuals, whereas size-distribution hints that at least some of the fishing ships associated with the operation may have been using purse-seine gear fishing equipment, which, for some species, goes against international conventions. Our data expose the magnitude of the threat that fishing industries and illegal trade represent to sharks in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean.
Highlights
In response to global threats, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has identified the international shark fin trade as the primary driver of population declines, protecting 46 shark species under this convention
We argue that the high shark biomass and the high proportion of endangered species transported by the reefer vessel, as well as the recent operation of international fleets around the Ecuadorian Exclusive Economic Zones, reveal a pattern of sustained exploitation of sharks in this region and, more generally, the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean
The complete maximum likelihood tree, with species names and bootstrap supports is available in the Supplementary Information Figure S1, where all samples were located in the same clade as samples of the species assigned by BLAST
Summary
In response to global threats, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has identified the international shark fin trade as the primary driver of population declines, protecting 46 shark species under this convention. Management to prevent population collapses of some of the most heavily traded and vulnerable shark species has become a global priority (CITES, https://www.citessharks.org). Fisheries management regulations and benefits derived from marine protected areas become ineffective when sharks move into international waters[10] or are undermined when international or local fleets fish protected species within countries’ exclusive economic zones (EEZs)[11, 12]. We present a case study from the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean as an example of how the operation of international fleets may hamper national and international efforts to preserve shark populations worldwide. Tiburón gris de arrecife Tiburón mico/sedoso Tiburón aletón/ puntas blancas oceánico Tiburón tigre Tiburón azul o Aguado
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