Contact: Scott Smullen             FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                   4/2/97

Atlantic shark populations are at such historically low levels because of overfishing and threats to their habitat that the National Marine Fisheries Service must lower commercial quotas and recreational catch limits to give the species a chance to stabilize, announced the fisheries service today as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration arm charged with managing offshore fishing while protecting marine life.

"From fishermen to environmental organizations, everyone agrees that Atlantic shark populations are at a precarious state and fishing pressure needs to be reduced," said Dr. Rebecca Lent, chief of the fisheries service's Highly Migratory Species Division. "After collecting comments from hundreds of fishermen and conservationists, we feel we've developed a rule that will avert further overfishing and stabilize Atlantic shark populations before they dwindle to a point where fishermen and the American public are left without this important resource."

The rule affects about 150 commercial fishermen by reducing the overall annual large coastal shark catch by 50 percent to 1,275 metric tons. In addition, the rule will limit the catch of the estimated thousands of recreational fishermen to two sharks per vessel per trip, plus two Atlantic sharpnose sharks per person per trip. The rule is effective immediately and will remain so at least through 1997 or until a more comprehensive shark rebuilding program is established and put in place.

"To reach the goal of rebuilding shark populations to healthy levels that allow larger quotas and more fish for recreational fishermen, we will soon convene an expert panel of scientists, fishermen, and environmentalists to help the agency develop a long-term amendment to the shark management plan," said Lent.

Commercial shark quotas are evenly split into two six-month seasons. Under the newly revised quota, commercial fishermen have already caught their first seasonal quota of 642 metric tons and therefore the commercial fishery will close at 11:30 p.m. on April 7,1997, and remain closed until the second season begins July 1. Fishermen are notified of the revised quota and closure through a faxboard network. Any overage in the first seasonal quota will be counted against the second commercial season of 642 metric tons.

Overall, the rule reduces total fishing effort on the 39 federally-managed species of large coastal, pelagic, and small coastal sharks and prohibits directed fishing for five species of sharks that are considered extremely vulnerable to overfishing (whale, basking, sand tiger, bigeye sand tiger, and white sharks). Also, a quota for small coastal sharks will be established for the first time. Commercial fishermen primarily target large coastal sharks for a portion of their income and fish for other species like tuna, snapper, grouper, and mackerel to round out their business.

Fisheries service scientists and managers spent months reviewing the best available science, fishermen's catch data, and collecting comments from the public, fishermen, and conservationists before implementing the regulations. The fisheries service first published the shark rules as a proposal in December 1996.

Shark habitat concerns will be addressed in the future as part of long-term management. The fisheries service will work with Atlantic coastal states to protect critical nursing and pupping areas found in state inshore waters. The fisheries service will also continue to work with Canada, Mexico, and international organizations on the exchange of shark science and catch data. The Mexican government has capped its commercial shark fishing permits and is considering establishing similar shark management procedures for its waters. Mexico has agreed to continue to meet with fisheries service officials about conserving the shared shark resource and has committed to a joint scientific research cruise for this summer.

"As predators, sharks are at the top of the marine food chain and play an important role in the ocean's ecosystem. We must maintain, as best we can, the delicate balance between providing business opportunities to the fishing industry and fishing communities, while ensuring this public resource reaches optimum levels," said Lent. Unlike other fish species, most sharks reach sexual maturity between 7 and 12 years of age, and then only give birth to a small litter of young.