Source: Oceana

The Spanish Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs published this week in the Official State Bulletin a total prohibition on the catch of hammerhead and thresher sharks[1]. With this highly awaited Ministerial Order, Spain has become a pioneering country within the European Unión by regulating its shark fisheries. It is the result of collaborations over the past year between by the environmental organization Oceana, the Ministry and the fisheries sector to reach an agreement that is satisfactory for all.

“We congratulate the Ministry for this measure, which represents a first step for Spain to regulate its shark fisheries. Thresher and hammerhead sharks are among the most vulnerable in the oceans, and this Ministerial Order with save the lives of the nearly 15,000 individuals that this country catches a year,” comments Rebecca Greenberg, marine scientists with the international marine conservation organization.

The new Ministerial Order, which will take effect on 1 January 2010, will prohibit the catch of all hammerhead sharks (genera Sphyrna y Eusphyra) and thresher sharks (single genus Alopias), by all types of fishing gear- including tuna longlining -  used by the Spanish fleet. Transhipment, landing and commercializing these species will also be prohibited.