THIS week, the EU Fisheries Council will agree annual Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for spurdog, porbeagle sharks and certain ray species.
The international marine conservation organization, Oceana has published a new report highlighting how European fisheries laws, such as TACs and quotas, must be used to protect sharks and rays.
The EU Fisheries Council will meet 14-15 December to agree the 2010 TACs for Community fleets. Oceana, the international marine conservation organization, is calling on Fisheries Ministers to end all fishing for porbeagle and spurdog sharks, both Critically Endangered in European waters, as well as that for endangered skates and rays. Setting TACs in line with scientific advice is one of the key ways to safeguard the future of sharks and rays, according to Oceana in the new report The Race for Threatened Sharks.