SHARK FIN MARKET ON A TEAR
Hawaii sees 22-fold increase in catch as prices skyrocket
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Michael Tighe
ASSOCIATED PRESS
13-Sep-1998 Sunday
HONOLULU -- The boats arrive at the local dock with shark fins hanging
From the rigging like laundry on a clothesline. Before the boat is even tied up, crewmen are selling the fins to men clutching six-packs of beer and handfuls of cash. Lately, they've been getting up to $32 a pound. Some fins wind up in local markets in a refrigerated case, sold to make soup -- a thousand-year-old Asian delicacy. Others are shipped straight
To Asia, where prices have hit $256 for a pound of dried and processed fin.
In Hawaii, where the economy lags behind much of the nation, $30 million worth of shark fins changes hands annually at the docks, usually in cash-only transactions. Traditionally, the money goes to the crew, not the boat owner. "Hawaii seems to be `Fin Central,' " said Howard Deese, a marine programs specialist with the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. "In this economy, everything helps." The leftovers from this industry are heating up federal discussions over finning. What the arriving boats leave behind in the waters off Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands are the carcasses of hundreds of thousands of finned sharks, mostly blues that are
Incidentally caught by fishermen chasing swordfish and tuna. Because the markets for shark meat, skin and cartilage are small, fishermen throw the body overboard -- sometimes still alive -- after they cut off its fins. That finless shark is eaten by another, bleeds to death or drowns. Many conservation groups consider that cruel, wasteful and contradictory
To American fisheries policy in most other oceans of the world. Shark finning is banned in federal waters of the Atlantic Ocean – where sharks have been overfished -- and is opposed by U.S. representatives to international fisheries organizations. Yet it's still allowed in the
Pacific. "This is a glaring problem that's inconsistent with U.S. policy everywhere on sharks," said Sonja Fordham, a shark specialist with the Center for Marine Conservation in Washington. "There are a million environmental groups ready to pounce on this."
That has the attention of federal fisheries managers in the Western Pacific. Even though some believe finning isn't an issue, they recognize that the practice looks bad.
"It's a perception issue," said Michael Laurs, director of the National Marine Fisheries Service laboratory. "It's premature to say there's a conservation problem.
"Even if we demonstrate that there's no conservation problem, there's going
to be a large voice coming from a number of groups saying there shouldn't be a shark fishery."
The fisheries service and the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, responsible for fisheries in federal waters here, have launched efforts to quantify the industry, assess shark populations and seek alternative markets for shark products.
What they start with are federal statistics showing that the Asian hankering for shark fins has caused the regional catch to skyrocket.
>From 1991 to 1996, as the price of fins doubled, the shark catch
reported at Hawaii's docks jumped 22-fold: from an estimated 200,000 pounds to
4.5 million pounds, according to the council. About 99 percent of those sharks were used just for their fins, so the catch weights are estimated based on the size of the fins.
And about 95 percent of those finned sharks were blue sharks, a species Of up to 13 feet and 400 pounds that's considered harmless to humans. Blues wind up on fishing vessels because they live in the same neighborhoods as swordfish and tuna, two prime targets of the Pacific commercial fishing industry. The fish typically are caught on lines
stretching across 80 miles of sea and dangling thousands of hooks. The council last year commissioned an overview of world agencies collecting data on Pacific sharks. But that study said "reliable fisheries statistics on a species-specific level for sharks is a rare commodity throughout the Pacific Rim."
"Unfortunately, we know very little about the populations of blue sharks,"
said Charles Karnella, administrator of the fisheries service Pacific Islands Area Office in Honolulu.
"All the information we have is fishery dependent data and what we'd like to do is have fishery independent data on the size of the population."
The council also will study whether alternative markets can be developed for shark products, such as using the skin for leather goods and promoting the use of cartilage and the liver for medicinal purposes. A state official said local interests want to process shark carcasses for medicinal purposes, but are hindered by the fact that carcasses spoil
quickly when stored on saltwater ice. The state is working with long-liners on other storage methods. For now, federal officials are not planning to curb the catch of sharks
or their finning. Council chairman James Cook, who also owns several fishing vessels believes finning should be stopped because it's wasteful and dangerous to fishermen, but said the council has to focus on science.
"The council looks at this the same way they look at a tuna," he said.
"It is a fishery and the shark is a fish."
A Newsletter of the CDFG Shark Tagging Program
330 Golden Shore, Suite 50
Long Beach, CA 9002
Phone : (562) 590-4801 Fax : (562) 590-5193 E-Mail : 74701.522@Compuserve.com
______________________________________________________________________________________
Welcome to the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) Shark Tagging Program Newsletter. This newsletter is dedicated to all of our volunteers past and present, who make the tagging program possible. Welcome aboard to our new taggers, and thank you again to all of you who continue to support this program ! As some of you know, the Shark Tagging Program has gone through a few changes this year. One major change was Leeanne Laughlin moving on to a different part of our project. She continues to help out with the tagging program as needed. and has been a great mentor to me.
John Ugoretz, Marine Biologist
Click here to see charts
1997 TAGGING OVERVIEW
This year 5 active volunteers in the program tagged 1,156 sharks. bringing the program total to over 8,900 sharks (Table 1). Twelve species of shark were tagged; Blue shark (Prionace glauca), Bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas), Leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata). Longfin mako shark (Isurus paucus), Sevengill shark (Notorynchus maculatus), Shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus), Sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus), Smooth Hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena) Soupfln shark (galeorhinus zyopterus), Thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus), Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier), and White shark (Carcharodon carcharias). During 1997 twenty tagged sharks were recaptured, bringing the recapture total to 139 (Table I The recaptures consisted of thirteen mako sharks. four blue sharks, two sevengill sharks, and one leopard shark
Table 1 . Summary of tagged (T) and recaptured (R) sharks. 1997 (Includes sharks tagged by CDFG and NMFS biologists).
| |
1983-96 |
1997 |
Total |
| T |
R |
T |
R |
T |
R |
| Blue Shark |
5296 |
38 |
1164 |
4 |
6460 |
42 |
| Shortin Mako |
1427 |
71 |
655 |
13 |
2082 |
84 |
| Angel Shark |
107 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
107 |
6 |
| Thresher Shark |
69 |
1 |
7 |
0 |
76 |
1 |
| Baskin Shark |
57 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
57 |
0 |
| Sevengill Shark |
51 |
3 |
7 |
2 |
58 |
5 |
| Leopard Shark |
29 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
33 |
1 |
| White Shark |
13 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
16 |
0 |
| Soupfin Shark |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
| Spiny Dogfish |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
| Smoothhounds |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
| Other Species |
11 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
| Total: |
7071 |
119 |
1850 |
20 |
8921 |
139 |
1997 preliminary data
The overall recapture rate for 1997 is 1.0%, continuing a downward trend over the past two years. Both the mako shark (1.9%) and the blue shark recapture rate 0.3%) were about half those of last year. This is possibly due to the El Nino conditions this year (see "El Nino or Not", page 3). Sharks may have relocated due to higher than normal water temperatures last summer. The capture and tagging of Hammerhead sharks off Santa Catalina Island, a Tiger shark off San Diego and a Bull shark off Palos Verdes are also indicative of El Nino conditions. All of these species are very uncommon this far north.
Shark Migrations
MAKO SHARKS
Of the thirteen Mako sharks recaptured this year all but two were caught in the Southern California Bight, within 50 nautical miles (nm) of where they were tagged. One of these sharks was at liberty for nearly two years, the rest were at liberty for one year or less. Of the makos caught over 100 nm from their tagging location, one was recaptured 25 miles off Point Loma, California. It traveled at least 106 nm in less than two months. The other was caught off Monterey Bay. It traveled at least 300 nm in about a year and a half.
Click here for Figure 1.
BLUE SHARKS
of their tagging locations, after almost two months at liberty. Another was caught in 10 days, only 1 nm from its tagging location. this blue was returned to the water unharmed. The fourth blue moved at least 132 nm in 3 l days. It was caught near Todos Santos Island, off Ensenada, Mexico
Click here for Figure 2.
SEVENGILL SHARKS
Two sevengill sharks were recaptured this year. The first had been at liberty for two and a half years and was recaptured within I nm of its tagging location in San Francisco Bay. The second sevengill moved at least 190 nm in over two years. It was tagged in San Francisco Bay and recaptured off the Avila Pier, in Port San Luis, California (Figure 3).
Click here for Figure 3.
LEOPARD SHARKS
For the first time since the program began, a leopard shark was recaptured this year. The shark was at liberty for nearly 2 and a half years and had only moved about 3 nm. It was tagged and recaptured in San Francisco Bay. ln that time the shark grew 9 inches. Also, this year we tracked down the origin of an unknown leopard shark that we had previously been unable to identify. This shark was tagged by a researcher in San Francisco Bay in 1979 and recaptured off Palos Verdes in 1990. In the 11 years it was at liberty it grew about 1 1/2 feet and gained 18 pounds. The shark was probably around 20 years old. It is the first and only record of a leopard shark moving from central to southern California.
1997 TOP SHARK TAGGERS
Two of our taggers tagged over 700 sharks this year. Way to go!
Joseph Singer (524) Keith Poe (219)
All of our top taggers this year had over 10 sharks tagged. Thank you all for your efforts
Tagger No. Sharks Tagged
Deana Poe 61
Sean VanSommeran 48
Guy Irwin 38
Ross Deardorff 33
Dave Casper 28
Mark McNees 25
Donald Bragg 22
Dexter Henkle l 8
Mark Wagner 15
Randall Holman 12
PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
This summer, the National Marine Fisheries Service NMFS conducted three shark tagging cruises on the R/V YELLOWFIN. In July NMFS tagged sharks off Baja California, Mexico, in conjunction with Mexican researchers. CDFG and NMFS have formed partnerships with Mexican biologists, which allow a greater flow of information between our countries. In late July and early August the RV YELLOWFIN worked in the Southern California Bight from San Diego to Santa Cruz Island. Five hundred and four sharks (41 blue sharks, 85 mako sharks, and 1 soupfin shark) were tagged on the NMFS cruises. In September CDFG conducted its shark tagging cruise aboard the RAO. Several volunteers assisted with the cruise, including some of our shark taggers. The CDFG biologists and volunteers tagged a total of 193 sharks (l6 blue sharks and 25 mako sharks). All cruises used longline gear to capture sharks. On the CDFG cruise a new "shark sling" was used to weigh and collect tissue samples from some of the larger sharks. This new method was devised with the help of Keith Poe see "Shark Tagger Weighs In", below) one of our top taggers. The sling allowed data to be collected for sharks that would have been impossible to bring on board before. Catch per unit effort data was also collected and will be used as part of an ongoing shark abundance assessment. We had the opportunity to attend two shark fishing tournaments this summer. The Oceanside Invitational Mako Shark Tournament was again very helpful and cooperative in allowing us to attend. In Oceanside, 16 new taggers joined the program and 19 sharks were measured for length frequency information. We also attended the Marina Del Rey Mako For Dollars Tournament. This tournament is in its second year and growing. Six new taggers joined the program and 9 sharks were measured at the tournament. The winning shark was a tagged mako, and excellent recapture information was obtained. Both of these tournarnents encourage tag and release of sharks under four feet in length. We look forward to participating again next year.
"Shark Tagger" Weighs In
Keith and Deana Poe are two of our top volunteer shark taggers. Keith has been with the program for several years and is a constant source of help, including signing up new taggers whenever he can. Deana joined the program late this year after fishing with Keith and seeing first hand how exciting catching and tagging sharks could be."After spending plenty of time on the sidelines heping Keith, I wanted to get out there and do what I could to help the resource." Early in the year Keith decided to find a way to get more accurate information on the size of sharks he tagged. "Besides the enjoyment I get from fishing, I wanted to get the most information I could to make my tagging useful." Working independently, he gathered materials and support from a variety of sources and created a shark sling connected to a davit on his boat. The sling hangs from an IGFA approved electronic scale. On his first weekend testing the sling, Keith tagged and weighed 9 sharks. The sling was effective in subduing the larger makos and allowing lengths to be taken more accurately and sex to be determined; this has been difficult in the past. Since that time the sling has had much use and given us excellent weight information on a large nurnber of mako and blue sharks. One blue, a seven foot female, was recaptured after it was weighed, giving us a return for Keith's efforts.Keith's idea definitely caught on with the SharkTagging Prograrn. Using Keith's photos, CDFG biologists designed a slingto be used on our shark tagging cruise. Keith volunteered his time on the cruise and allowed us to use his new electronic scale. The sling vastly improved our ability to determine the sex and length of larger (5 ft.) sharks. All but 10 large makos were measured on the cruise, and 88% had their sex determined. This compares to only 51% on last year's cruise. The help and creative ideas of anglers like Keith and Deana Poe are a valuable addition to the Shark Tagging Program.
EL NINO OR NOT?
In May of 1997 scientists began noticing a typical El Nino weather pattern off the U.S. West Coast. El Nino, known by scientists as the El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO), is a natural phenomenon which occurs when atmospheric pressures at opposite sides of the Pacific ocean reverse. Normal trade winds slacken, allowing a pool of warm water to flow back across the Pacific along the equator. The effects of this warm water are usually seen off Central and South America around Christmas time. Some say the name El Nino comes from this, referring to the Christ child. This year the equatorial onset of the ENSO event began a few months later, making this year's event similar to the 1982-83 ENSO. Locally, we began to see the effects of this event in the early summer. Sea surface temperature soared. Temperatures peaked in September, reaching 75°F or higher in the Southern California Bight. Temperatures have since declined, but remain 3 to 4°F higher than normal. Sport fishing boomed this summer. Early catches of yellowtail, dorado, and yellowfin tuna were seen throughout southern California. Our shark taggers in Monterey began seeing many more blue and mako sharks than they do in normal years. Local taggers reported seeing fewer than normal small blue sharks. In addition to this, several 'exotic" sharks were caught. A tiger shark was caught off' San Diego. several hammerheads were caught off Santa Catalina Island. and a bull shark was caught and tagged off Palos Verdes. Other interesting catches included dorado and even a striped marlin off Washington. On our shark tagging cruise. many dorado were caught on the longline. This had never happened on our cruises before and indicated a larger than normal number of these fish in the area. Newscasters have been taken up by the ENSO fever. In June dire predictions about the coming winter storms were already being made. While these storms are a real possibility. it is very hard to predict what will come of the latest ENSO It is, however, good to be prepared, especially when reviewing the flooding and high surf of the 1982-83 event. Even so. it is easy to agree with Milton Love in his book 'Probably More Than You Want To Know About The Fishes Of The Pacific Coast" when he states that "it seems excessive to blame El ninos for increased divorce rates in Malawi, the poor showing of the Albanian National Lawn Bowling Team or the death of Elvis Presley I think)."
SPECIAL THANKS
Special thanks are in order for several taggers. These individuals have volunteered time or loaned equipment to us this year. Frank Nielsen, Keith Poe, and Sean VanSommeran all volunteered their time to help with the shark tagging cruise. Keith has made a long term loan of the electronic scale used on the tagging cruise. Joe Singer has lent us three excellent framed photos of sharks being tagged for use at public events. He has also provided 100 stainless steel tagging tips to be distributed to new taggers. Please contact us if you are interested in helping us beyond tagging. While we can not accept money, loans of time and
equipment are very helpful. Of course, the help provided by all of our volunteer taggers is already greatly appreciated
California Department of Fish Game
Shark Tagging Program
300 Golden Shore. Suite 50
Long Beach, CA g0802
TAGGING REMINDERS
White sharks (Carchardon carcharias) are now fully protected under California law. You may not fish for, or tag, white sharks without a special permit. Scientists in our proram tagged three white sharks this year.
There is a three foot minimum size limit on leopard sharks (Triakis semifasciata) ln addition, any shark under three feet in length should not be tagged with our "sh" tags as it may seriously injure them. Call if you would like to receive special "js" tags for small makos and blues.
There is a new gear restriction for sport fishing: "Mouse Trapping" or "Jugging" gear may not be used to fish for sharks This gear consists of a float or set of floats that is free floating, not attached to thc boat. This gear is very prone to loss, leading to unnecessary waste of the resource.
Please completely fill out the tag card as accurately as possible. Location in latitude/longitude format is very helpful. If you can not determine the sex of the shark, leave this section blank. do not guess. Be as accurate as possible on length estimates many of our taggers attach a measuring tape to the side of the boat to help estimate size. Please list the angler if other than the permitee.
If you catch a tagged shark, collect the same information you would when tagging a shark. If possible.leave the tag in the shark and return it to the water. Multiple tag and recapture information is more valuable than single sets. If you cannot read the tag without removing it, re-tag the shark and note the old tag number on the new tag card.
