Shark Demersal

After interest in the tuna longline fishery waned in the mid 1960's, fishers turned their attention to other more lucrative stocks. Fishers used longline gear to target hake and kingklip under the guise of shark permits. When the by-catch limits of hake and kingklip were reduced in the shark fishery, fishing effort decreased exponentially. Prior to 1998 more than 30 permits were issued to target shark, but due to poor performance in the fishery the total applied effort ("TAE") was reduced to 23 permits in 1998. The TAE was further reduced for 2004 to 11 permits due to poor performance. For the 2006 season, the TAE has been further reduced to 6 permits or a maximum of 6 vessels.

Prior to 1 January 2006, the shark longline fishery targeted both pelagic sharks (blue and mako sharks) and demersal sharks (hound sharks, namely Galeorrhinus galeus and Mustelus mustelus) by using either surface or bottom set gears, respectively. As the gear used to target blue and mako sharks is similar to that used for targeting tunas and swordfish a management decision was taken to remove pelagic shark fishing from the shark longline sector and manage it as part of the large pelagic sector. With effect from 1 January 2006, the targeted pelagic shark fishery was terminated.

Many shark permit holders hold other permits in sectors such as hake longline and tuna pole. Consequently, the shark fishery is generally used to keep the vessels busy when not engaged in other sectors. The shark demersal fishery contributes on average 4% to the medium term right holders' annual turnover.

Sharks are generally long-lived species that display low fecundity, slow growth rates and late maturation, which makes them particularly susceptible to over-exploitation. Further, sharks are apex predators and the removal of these species could drastically alter marine ecosystems. Shark recruitment is strongly associated with adult biomass. Accordingly, the more adults in a population the more productive the fishery.

The number of vessels active in the demersal fishery has fluctuated annually, with the number steadily increasing to 14 vessels in 1999. Only five vessels were active in 2003. As the fishery is seasonal (with the highest catch rates experienced in winter) it is difficult to assess yearly Catch Per Unit Effort, which has fluctuated widely. Prior to 2001, catches of G. galeus averaged 34 tons per year, but since 2001 catches have declined to below 20 tons per year, with less than 3 tons landed in 2004 (the second lowest catch on record). In 2001-2002 a stock assessment indicated that the main targeted species Galeorrhinus galeus was optimally exploited, despite only three longliners operating in 2001 and two in 2002. Sharks cannot sustain large fisheries.

Sector Facts (FOR SECTOR DETAILS PLEASE EMAIL FEIKE AT ssonday@feike.co.za)