Sharks (Hansard, 6 June 1996)

§ Ms Walley
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) on what available data the EC quota of 100 tonnes of basking shark liver oil is based; what assessment he has made of whether the level of exploitation is sustainable; and if he will make a statement; [31330]
(2) if he will list the fisheries for basking sharks in United Kingdom waters. [31336]

§ Mr. Baldry
There is no EU quota for basking sharks. However, as part of the EU-Norway agreement Norwegian fishermen have a quota of 100 tonnes of basking shark liver in United Kingdom waters. The quota figure is based on historic catch levels. It has been reducing over the years from 800 tonnes in 1977 to 400 tonnes in 1988 and to the present 100 tonnes in 1991.
The very limited Norwegian uptake presents no threat to basking sharks in UK waters.
558W

§ Ms Walley
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the yearly catch for basking sharks under the EC-Norwegian agreement for each of the last five years. [31331]

§ Mr. Baldry
European Commission data indicate that Norwegian fishermen caught 5.8 tonnes of basking shark liver in 1993 against their annual quota of 100 tonnes under the EU-Norway agreement. No catches were recorded in the years 1991, 1992, 1994 or 1995.

§ Ms Walley
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what data are collated by his Department on the landings in the United Kingdom of individual shark species; and what assessment his Department has made of the advantages of introducing a quota management system to log landings for shark species to support the convention on international trade in endangered species resolution 9.17. [31333]

§ Mr. Baldry
The Ministry records landings into the United Kingdom of a large number of commercially important fish species as well as of a number of species of shark and shark-like species not considered to be commercially important. The species of the latter which are currently recorded are angel shark, kitefin shark, leafscale gulper shark, great lantern shark, greater spotted dogfish, lesser spotted dogfish, spurdog, birdbeak dogfish, Portuguese dogfish, longnose velvet dogfish and knifetooth dogfish. Other shark and shark-like species are recorded under more general headings.
Sharks are not included in the convention on international trade in endangered species. However, in response to evidence of increased trade in sharks CITES resolution 9.17 commissioned research on the impact of trade on shark populations. The UK has complied with the obligations of resolution 9.17 by providing the CITES animals committee with information on trade in sharks and the biological status of sharks in UK waters. Additionally, the Department of the Environment has contributed funding of £15,000 towards the cost of research by the shark specialist group of the world conservation union.
Because shark catches in UK waters are low there is not sufficient justification for the establishment of a quota management system.