Silky Sharks Protected

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The member countries of the WCPFC—which include Japan, the United States, the European Union, China, Chinese Taipei, and South Korea—agreed to ban fishing of the near-threatened silky shark, an oceanic species that has experienced dramatic declines in its numbers.

“Silky sharks are naturally vulnerable because, like many sharks, they grow slowly and produce few offspring,” said Luke Warwick, a shark policy specialist with Pew. “A stock assessment has shown that silky sharks are overfished and that overfishing of the species has been ongoing. The Commission still needs to set catch limits for all commercially exploited sharks, prohibit the retention of threatened species, and support national laws, such as sanctuaries, that offer greater prospect for population recovery.”