iSea would like to express its deep concerns following the recurring shark fishing and display incidents that are published in electronic media and social platforms throughout Greece. Sadly, the above publications contribute to an already grave situation, in which rare and threatened marine and terrestrial species face unreasonable and irrational human violence. Unfortunately, the incidents are more than many, such as the wide publicized poaching of the threatened chamois Rupicapra rupicapra in mountainous Pindos, the deliberate killing of Mediterranean monk seal with a shot gun and the decapitations of loggerhead sea turtles in the Cyclades, and the strandings of dead dolphins, bearing wounds irrefutably caused by sharp instruments. 

Regarding shark fisheries (either targeted or incidental/bycatch), iSea would like to highlight that from the total of 39 species that have been recorded in Greek seas, 17 are formally under legal protection, either by national or by European and international legislation. Thus their capture, landing, transfer and marketing is strictly forbidden. Illegal shark fishing in Greek seas, but even more their inhumane and irresponsible display as trophies, discredits their conservation, and promotes unacceptable paradigms and examples on the perception of wild fauna, and especially of those charismatic and unique top predators of the seas. Over the last couple of months, the following unfortunate cases have been recorded:

Capture of an Alopias superciliosus (Bigeye thresher shark) at Paralio Astros on the 28th of January 2017

It concerns a harmless and relatively rare species in Greek seas. Its fisheries are banned through several legal instruments, such as the EU Regulation 2017/128, 43/2014, 72/2016, GFCM’s Recommendation 36/2012/3, which explicitly prohibits retaining on board, transhipping, landing, storing, selling, or offering for sale any part or whole carcass of Bigeye thresher sharks. The Mediterranean population of the species has been designated as Endangered in the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species.

Fishing of Isurus oxyrinchus (Shortfin mako shark) at Karpathos island on the 20th of February 2017 

The population of this species has decreased considerably due to incidental catches and bycatch. The Mediterranean population has been designated as Critically Endangered in the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species. It has been listed in Annex II of Bonn Convention, Annex II of the Protocol for the SPAs and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean seas of the Barcelona Convention, while according to GFCM’s Recommendation 36/2012/3 the species must be released unharmed and alive to the extent possible, cannot be retained on board, transhipped, landed, transferred, stored, sold or displayed or offered for sale.

Capture and subsequent release of an Hexanchus griseus (Bluntnose sixgill shark) at Argolis on the 8th of March 2017

This concerns a species strictly protected by Greek national legislation, namely the Presidential Decree 67/1981, «On the protection of native flora and fauna», where among others the law has impose a complete ban on killing, removing, mistreating, possessing, collecting, buying, selling or exporting the species.

Fishing of an Alopias vulpinus (Common Thresher shark) at Nea Kios of Argolis on the 19th of March 2017

Its fisheries are banned through several EU Regulations, namely 2017/128, 43/2014 and 72/2016. The Common Thresher Shark has been designated as an Endangered Species in the Mediterranean Red List of IUCN, and as Vulnerable in the Greek Red List. Concerning the above mentioned incident since the shark was captured in nets it may have been released by the fishers. The fact that the animal caught was bearing young, which also died with their mother is considered as an important loss for a species that presents extremely low reproductive rates.

Sharks are organisms that possess a unique value as top predators and constitute irreplaceable elements of marine ecosystems. They are considered among the oldest animals still surviving on the planet, extremely intelligent and displaying complex social behaviours and structures. Unfortunately, contemporary narratives widely presented in popular and mainstream and cultural media, have attached an utterly negative connotation to sharks, propagating an unsubstantiated and fabricated image of them as implacable and voracious predators. The public’s perception on sharks, their biological characteristics (low reproductive and growth rates, their long life spans, and the average 2 to 4 litter size), along with the grave threats they face due to unsustainable fisheries, pollution, and habitat degradation, have resulted in a considerable population decrease globally. This is further highlighted by IUCN, that has documented in a recent report, that more than 50% of the Mediterranean shark species are threatened by a population collapse, describing the Mediterranean sea as the most dangerous place on the world for sharks!

In Greek seas 11 from the total of 39 species (out of the 47 found in the Mediterranean basin) have been identified as threatened according to IUCN’s Red List (4 are considered as Critically Endangered, 3 as Endangered and 4 as Vulnerable).

Sharks and rays protection is imposed through a series of laws, international treaties and European Directives and Regulations, which the Greek state has the obligation to enforce. Nationally the most important law is the Presidential Decree 67/1981, «On the protection of native flora and fauna», according to which two species of sharks, Bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus) and Sharpnose sevengill shark (Heptranchias perlo) have been designated as strictly protected, including a complete ban on killing, removing, mistreating, possessing, collecting, buying, selling or exporting them. Furthermore, the Greek state has ratified a number of conventions that foresee their preservation, such as Barcelona, Bonn and Bern Conventions, CITES and UNCLOS, as well as the EU Regulations 43/2014 and 72/2016. Recently, the General Directorate for Sustainable Fisheries of the Greek Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food has published a circular and an accompanying identification guide formally requesting the enforcement of the legislation regarding the conservation of shark species. iSea welcomed this initiative, identifying however a few inaccuracies found in the guide.

Sadly, it is a fact that relevant legislation on shark conservation is not enforced in Greece, with increasing incidental or even targeted fishing of protected shark species, but also their landing and selling in the markets and restaurants. iSea has already identified that the need to properly and accurately inform and educate the public, fishers and fish market stakeholders on the legal aspects of shark conservation their biology and ecology is urgent.

We all have a duty to conserve the natural capital of our country, in order to preserve the valuable marine resources for the generations to come!