STATUS OF DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL PLANS OF ACTION (NPOA) FOR SHARKS AND SEABIRDS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FAO GUIDELINES TO REDUCE MARINE TURTLE MORTALITY IN FISHING OPERATIONS

1^st: April 2004

2^nd: July 2012

1^st: 1998 2^nd: 2006 3^rd: 2014

NPOA in 2018.

Sharks: 2^nd NPOA-Sharks (Shark-plan 2) was released in July 2012, along with an operational strategy for implementation: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/fisheries/environment/sharks/sharkplan-2

Seabirds: Australia has implemented a Threat Abatement Plan [TAP] for the Incidental Catch (or Bycatch) of Seabirds During Oceanic Longline Fishing Operations since 1998. The present TAP took effect from 2014 and largely fulfills the role of an NPOA in terms of longline fisheries. http://www.antarctica.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/21509/Threat-Abatement-Plan-2014.pdf In 2018, Australia finalised an NPOA to address the potential risk posed to seabirds by other fishing methods, including longline fishing in state and territory waters, which are not covered by the current threat abatement plan.

Marine turtles: Australia's current marine turtle bycatch management and mitigation measures fulfil Australia’s obligations under the FAO-Sea turtles Guidelines.

Sharks: Bangladesh currently do not have a NPOA for sharks. The Wildlife Conservation and Security Act introduced in 2012 lays out general rules on requirements for hunting wild animals but no specific mention of sharks. The Wildlife Conservation and Security Act was introduced in 2012 states: No person shall hunt any wild animal without license, or import or export any wild animal without a CITES certificate.

Seabirds: Bangladesh currently do not have a NPOA for seabirds. The Wildlife Conservation and Security Act introduced in 2012 lays out general rules on permits required to hunt wild animals but no specific mention of seabirds.

Marine turtles: Bangladesh currently have no information on their implementation of FAO guidelines on sea turtles. The Wildlife Conservation and Security Act introduced in 2012 lays out general rules on requirements for hunting wild animals but no specific mention of turtles

Sharks: China is currently considering developing an NPOA for sharks.

Seabirds: Development has not begun, China is currently considering developing an NPOA for seabirds.

Marine turtles: No information received by the Secretariat.

Sharks: NPOA sharks was developed in 2006 and revised in 2012. No further revisions are currently planned.

Seabirds: NPOA seabirds was developed in 20016 and revised in 2014. No further revisions are currently planned.

Marine turtles:  Wildlife Protection Act introduced in 2013, Protected Wildlife shall not be disturbed, abused, hunted, killed, traded, exhibited, displayed, owned, imported, exported, raised or bred, unless under special circumstances recognized in this or related legislation.  Cheloniidae spp., Caretta Caretta, Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata, Lepidochelys olivacea and Dermochelys coriacea are listed into List of Protected Species. Domestic Fisheries Management Regulation on Far Sea Fisheries request that all fishing vessels must carry line cutters, de-hookers and hauling nets in order to facilitate the appropriate handling and prompt release of marine turtles caught or entangled.

Sharks: No NPOA has been developed. Shark fishing is prohibited but measures are difficult to enforce due to the artisanal nature of the fisheries. A campaign to raise awareness of measures is being implemented to improve compliance. Shark catches and size frequency data are submitted to IOTC.

Seabirds: No NPOA has been developed. There is no fleet in operation south of 25 degrees south and no long-line fleet. The main fishery is artisanal operating within 24 miles of the coast where there is low risk of interactions with seabirds.

Marine turtles: According to the Comoros Fisheries Code Article 78, fishing, capture, possession and marketing of turtle and marine mammals or of protected aquatic organisms is strictly forbidden in accordance with national legislation in force and International Conventions applicable to the Comoros.

Sharks: No information received by the Secretariat.

Seabirds: No information received by the Secretariat.

Marine turtles: No information received by the Secretariat.

European Union

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Sharks: The European Community Action Plan for the conservation and management of sharks was approved on 05-Feb-2009 and it is currently being implemented.

Seabirds: On Friday 16 November 2012 an Action Plan to address the problem of incidental catches of seabirds in fishing gears was adopted by the EU.

Marine turtles: European Union Council Regulation (EC) No 520/2007 of 7 May 2007 lays down technical measures for the conservation of migratory species including marine turtles incorporating articles and provisions to reduce marine turtle bycatch. The regulation urges Member States to do their utmost to reduce the impact of fishing on sea turtles, in particular by applying the measures provided for in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of the resolution.

Sharks: NPOA sharks was approved on 05-Feb-2009.

Seabirds: NPOA seabirds were finalised in 2009 and 2011. Revisions were developed in 2009 for Barrau’s petrel and 2019 for Amsterdam albatross which will be in force from 2018-2027.

Marine turtles: The NPOA for turtles has been implemented from 2015-20 and is now under review for its renewal. The NPOA covers the five species of marine turtles that are present in the southwest Indian Ocean.

Sharks: NPOA sharks is in preparation. In June 2015, India published a document entitled “Guidance on National Plan of Action for Sharks in India” which is intended as a guidance to the NPOA-Sharks, and seeks to (1) present an overview of the currents status of India’s shark fishery, (2) assess the current management measures and their effectiveness, (3) identify the knowledge gaps that need to be addressed in NPOA-Sharks and (4) suggest a theme-based action plan for NPOA-Sharks.

Seabirds: India has determined that seabird interactions are not a problem for their fleets. However, a formal evaluation has not yet taken place which the WPEB and SC require.

Marine turtles: No information received by the Secretariat.

Sharks: Indonesia established an NPOA for sharks and rays which was in place from 2015-2020.

Seabirds: An NPOA seabirdswas finalized in 2016.

Marine turtles: Indonesia has established an NPOA for Marine Turtle but does not fully conform with FAO guidelines, Indonesia had been implementing Ministerial Regulation 12/2012 regarding captured fishing business on high seas to reduce turtle bycatch.

Sharks: Have communicated to all fishing cooperatives the IOTC resolutions on sharks. Have in place a ban on the retention of live sharks.

Seabirds: I.R. Iran determined that seabird interactions are not a problem for their fleet as they consist of gillnet vessels only. i.e. no longline vessels, therefore no NPOA has been developed.

Marine turtles: The National Action Plan for the Protection of Iranian Sea Turtles has been developed with the guidance and participation and approval of the Iranian Department of the Environment. The details of this plan will be communicated with the secretariat.

Sharks: NPOA Shark assessment implementation report was submitted to COFI in July 2012 (Revised in 2016).

Seabirds: NPOA Seabird implementation report was submitted to COFI in July 2012 (Revised in 2016).

Marine turtles: All Japanese fleets fully implement Resolution 12/04.

Sharks: A National Plan of Action for sharks is being developed and shall put in place a framework to ensure the conservation and management of sharks and their long-term sustainable use in Kenya. Preliminary meetings have been held and there are plans to finalise the NPOA by 2021.

Seabirds: Kenya does not have any flagged longline vessels on its registry. There is no evidence of any gear seabird interaction with the current fishing fleet. Kenya plans to develop a NPOA for seabirds after the NPOA Sharks has been finalised.

Marine turtles: The Kenyan fisheries law prohibits retention and landing of turtles caught incidentally in fishing operations. Public awareness efforts are conducted for artisanal gillnet and artisanal longline fishing fleets on the mitigations measures that enhance marine turtle conservation. Kenya plans to develop a NPOA for turtles after the NPOA Sharks has been finalised.

Sharks: NPOA sharks was finalised in 2011 and is currently being implemented.

Seabirds: NPOA seabirds was finalised in 2014 and submitted to FAO in 2019.

Marine turtles: All Rep. of Korea vessels fully implement Res 12/04 and FAO guidelines relating to sea turtles.

Sharks: Development has not begun.

Seabirds: Development has not begun. Note: A fisheries monitoring system is in place in order to ensure compliance by vessels with the IOTC’s shark and seabird conservation and management measures.

Marine turtles: There is zero capture of marine turtle within the logbook. All the longliners use the circular hooks since. Declaration confirmed by the onboard observers and the on-landing samplers.

Sharks: A revised NPOA-sharks was published in 2014.

Seabirds: To be developed

Marine turtles: A NPOA For Conservation and Management of Sea Turtles had been published in 2008. A revision will be published in 2017.

Sharks: NPOA Sharks was finalised in 2015 with the assistance of Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BoBLME) Project. The longline logbooks ensure the collection of shark bycatch data to genus level. Maldives would be reporting on shark bycatch to the appropriate technical Working Party meetings of IOTC. On 14^th July 2019 the Government of Maldives officially announced the cessation of the Maldives Long line fishery in Maldives EEZ and High Seas so consider the NPOA for sharks to now be unnecessary.

Seabirds: Article 12 of IPOA states that if a ‘problem exists’ CPCs adopt an NPOA. IOTC Resolution 05/09 suggests CPCs to report on seabirds to the IOTC Scientific Committee if the issue is appropriate'. Maldives considers that seabird entanglement and bycatch is not an issue in Maldives fisheries especially with the recent cessation of the Maldives Long line fishery.

Marine turtles: Longline regulation has provisions to reduce marine turtle bycatch. The regulation urges longline vessels to have dehookers for removal of hook and a line cutter on board, to release the caught marine turtles as prescribed in Resolution 12/04. Maldives considers that sea turtle entanglement and bycatch is not an issue in Maldives fisheries especially with the recent cessation of the Maldives long line fishery.

Sharks: The NPOA-sharks has been finalised; it focuses on actions needed to exercise influence on foreign fishing through the IOTC process and licence conditions, as well as improving the national legislation and the skills and data handling systems available for managing sharks.

Seabirds: Mauritius does not have national vessels operating beyond 25⁰S. However, fishing companies have been requested to implement all mitigation measures as provided in the IOTC Resolutions.

Marine turtles: Marine turtles are protected by the national law. Fishing companies have been requested to carry line cutters and de-hookers in order to facilitate the appropriate handling and prompt release of marine turtles caught or entangled.

Sharks: Drafting of the NPOA-Shark started in 2016. At this stage, a baseline assessment was performed and the relevant information of coastal, pelagic and demersal shark species along the Mozambican coast was gathered. The ongoing process is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.

Seabirds: Mozambique is regularly briefing the Masters of their fishing vessels on the mandatory requirement to report any seabird interaction with longliner fleet.

Marine turtles:  see above.

Sharks: An NPOA-sharks is currently being drafted and is due to be finalized in 2017

Seabirds: Not yet initiated

Marine turtles: The law does not allow the catch of sea turtles, and the fishermen are requested to release any hooked or entangled turtle. The longline fleet are required to carry out the line cutters and de-hookers.

Sharks: Sharks are required to be landed with the fins attached and the whole shark must be utilised. A stakeholder consultation workshop was conducted from 28-30 March 2016 to review the actions of the draft NPOA - Sharks. The draft NPOA was circulated to the key stakeholders and comments were received with an end-date of 30 June 2016. The final version of the NPOA - Sharks has been submitted to the provincial fisheries departments for endorsement. Meanwhile, the provincial fisheries departments have passed notification on catch, trade and/or retention of sharks including Thresher sharks, hammerheads, oceanic whitetip, whale sharks, guitarfishes, sawfishes, wedgefishes and mobulids. 

Seabirds: Pakistan considers that seabird interactions are not a problem for the Pakistani fishing fleet as the tuna fishing operations do not include longline vessels.

Marine turtles: Pakistan has already framed Regulations regarding the prohibition of catching and retaining marine turtles. As regards to the reduction of marine turtle bycatch by gillnetters; presently Marine Fisheries Department (MFD) in collaboration with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Pakistan, is undertaking an assessment. Stakeholder Coordination Committee Meeting was conducted on 10^th September 2014. The “Turtle Assessment Report (TAR)” will be finalized by February 2015 and necessary guidelines / action plan will be finalized by June 2015. As per clause-5 (c) of Pakistan Fish Inspection & Quality Control Act, 1997, “Aquatic turtles, tortoises, snakes, mammals including dugongs, dolphins, porpoises and whales etc” are totally forbidden for export and domestic consumption.  

Sharks: NPOA sharks was finalised in 2009 and is under periodic review.

Seabirds: Development has not begun.

Marine turtles: No information received by the Secretariat.

Sharks: NPOA-sharks has been reviewed and a new NPOA has now been developed for 2016-19. The NPOA will be revised with input from relevant stakeholders when the current document expires at the end of 2020.

Seabirds: SFA is developing a TOR to hire a consultant to develop a NPOA for seabirds in the Seychelles with a planned completion date of December 2020. The industrial longline fleet of Seychelles has been instructed to conform with the requirements of Res. 12/06.

Marine turtles: IOTC mandatory requirements for marine turtles are being addressed through the ATF (Certificate of Authorisation to Fish). Data reporting requirements are addressed via logbook and observer programmes.

Sharks: No information received by the Secretariat.

Seabirds: No information received by the Secretariat.

Marine turtles: No information received by the Secretariat.

Sharks: Somalia is currently revising its fisheries legislation (current one being from 1985) and will consider the development of NPOAs as part of this revision process. A consultation process has begun in order to develop the NPOA for Sharks.

Seabirds: There are no purse seine or long line vessels operating under the Somalia flag, the only fleet is a small-scale artisanal fishery. Seabird bycatch does not occur in this fishery. However, a consultation process has begun in order to develop the NPOA for Seabirds.

Marine turtles: The Somali national fisheries law and legislation was reviewed and approved in 2014. This incudes Articles on the protection of marine turtles. Further review of the National Law is underway to harmonize this with IOTC Resolutions and is expected to be presented to the new parliament for endorsement in 2017. A consultation process has begun in order to implement FAO guidelines on reducing sea turtle mortality.  

Sharks: The NPOA-sharks was first approved and published in 2013. An update of the NPOA was provided in 2018.

Seabirds: NPOA seabirds was published in August 2008 and has been fully implemented since then. The NPOA-seabirds is being reviewed and is due to be finalised in 2020.

Marine turtles: The permit conditions for the longline fishery prohibits landing of turtles. Vessels have to carry a de-hooker on board and instructions on turtle handling and release in line with the FAO guidelines are included in the permit conditions. Trained observers are present on 100% of the trips of foreign vessels that fish under South African jurisdiction and all turtle interactions on these trips are recorded. Since 2013 recording of turtle interactions in the log books is mandatory and each vessel is provided with a species identification guide.

Sharks: NPOA sharks was first finalized in 2013 then revised in 2018 for implementation from 2018-2022.

Seabirds: Sri Lanka has determined that seabird interactions are not a problem for their fleets. However a formal review has not yet taken place which the WPEB and SC have approved.

Marine turtles: An update on the progress of the implementation of the FAO Guideline to Reduce Sea Turtle Mortality in Fishing Operation in 2019 was submitted to IOTC in March 2020. Marine turtles are legally protected in Sri Lanka and it is prohibited to catch them. Longline vessels are required to have dehookers for removal of hooks and a line cutter on board, to release the caught marine turtles. Gillnets longer than 2.5 km are now prohibited in domestic legislation and Sri Lanka are in the process of phasing out the use of gill nets within its EEZ with a view to enforcing complete prohibition of gill nets by 2022. Reporting of bycatch has made legally mandatory and facilitated via logbooks.

Sharks: No information received by the Secretariat.

Seabirds: No information received by the Secretariat.

Marine turtles: No information received by the Secretariat.

Sharks: Initial discussions on the development of NPOA sharks have commenced.

Seabirds: Initial discussions on the development of NPOA seabirds have commenced. Note: Terms and conditions related to protected sharks and seabirds contained within fishing licenses.

Marine turtles: Sea turtles are protected by law. However as there is a national turtle and Dugong conservation committee that oversee all issues related to sea turtles and dugongs. There is no information so far with regards to interactions between sea turtles and long line fishery.

Sharks: The second NPOA sharks has been finalised for the period 2020-2024 and will be submitted to the Secretariat when it has been translated from Thai into English.

Seabirds: Development of NPOA seabirds has not begun. Thailand does not have longliners operating in the southern region of the Indian Ocean far from Thailand or large purse seine vessels operating in the Indian Ocean as a whole. The Notification of the Department of fishing vessels operating in Indian Ocean Tuna Commission Competence Area B.E.2561 has been in force since 2018 and includes requirements for line-cutters and dehookers to be carried for releasing marine animals and for any fishing vessel operating south of 25^oS to follow the measures for mitigating capture of seabirds. 

Marine turtles:  Thailand reports on progress of the implementation of FAO guidelines on turtles in their National Report to IOTC. Laws relating to conservation of marine turtles include: a prohibition on catching marine turtles; discarding of any marine turtles caught and recording details on catches; and a requirement to take care of injured marine turtles that have been caught.

British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) waters are a Marine Protected Area closed to fishing except recreational fishing in the 3nm territorial waters around Diego Garcia. Separate NPOAs have not been developed within this context. Encounters of illegal fishing are fully documented and reported through the Compliance committee, but these would not be covered by NPOAs as they concern foreign flagged fishing vessels.

Sharks/Seabirds: For sharks, UK is the 24^th signatory to the Convention on Migratory Species ‘Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks’ which extends the agreement to UK Overseas Territories including British Indian Ocean Territories; Section 7 (10) (e) of the Fisheries (Conservation and Management) Ordinance refers to recreational fishing and requires sharks to be released alive and unharmed. . No seabirds are caught in the recreational fishery.

Marine turtles: No marine turtles are captured in the recreational fishery. A monitoring programme is taking place to assess the marine turtle population in UK (OT) including maintaining records of turtle nests encountered during island patrols.

Sharks: No information received by the Secretariat.

Seabirds: No information received by the Secretariat.

Marine turtles: No information received by the Secretariat.

Sharks: No information received by the Secretariat.

Seabirds: No information received by the Secretariat.

Marine turtles: No information received by the Secretariat.

Sharks: The Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission supported the development of a NPOA-sharks for Senegal in 2005. Other activities conducted include the organization of consultations with industry, the investigation of shark biology and social -economics of shark fisheries). The NPOA is currently being revised. Consideration is being made to the inclusion of minimum mesh size, minimum shark size, and a ban on shark finning.

Seabirds: The need for a NPOA-seabirds has not yet been assessed.

Marine turtles: No information received by the Secretariat.