A Threatened Species: The Porbeagle Shark

A species that is critically endangered is the Porbeagle Shark (Lamna nasus).

There are several elements that have contributed to the current diminishing state of the Porbeagle shark. This is mainly due to over fishing as it’s meat is in large demand, especially by the French, who have their own special Porbeagle fishing fleet. Lately, its fins have also made its way to Asian markets, which are well known for their love of sharks fins. Yet contributing, is the fact that Porbeagle meat is the most expensive type of shark’s meat, yielding big returns for fishermen. Four decades of extreme fishing without restriction have really taken its toll on the slow maturing sharks who only have a few young.

When it finally became acknowledged as an extremely endangered species in 1998, the quota for its fishing was reduced by a huge 80% due to the severity of its numbers which were at an unsustainable level. The quota is now 250 tonnes, accounting for all sources: 185 for direct fishery and also allowing for 65 tonnes which may be caught accidentally, or, in my opinion, illegally. Mating areas during mating seasons have also been completely closed off to shark fishing.

These critical actions taken have not really influenced other marine species, as its predatory role in the ocean was long ago overtaken by humans, who have certainly done more than their bit in ensuring that there is not too large an abundance of fish in the ocean. The only real harm to humans is that people have to eat it more sparsely and fishermen who may rely on it for their profitability will have to turn to something else, which they would have had to do eventually anyway, as the species reached extinction.

Conflicts of interest obviously arise from the demand on the market for this expensive and valuable meat, however, the World Conservation Union has pointed out how critically endangered they are and so the quota has been put in and now must be more or less followed.

My view on the best solution is to keep the current quota, which seems to be as low as you are able to get, many countries still tried lobbying it higher, and if the situation gets still worse, tighten the quota further. There are not a lot of variables in this situation, Porbeagles can only really be caught by those who are looking for them as they dwell in rather deep seas, rarely or even never, approaching anywhere near the shore so they are not a species you would see at the beach. Therefore, the only people you have to control are the fishermen…