Researchers documented the illegal catch found aboard a shark fishing vessel seized in the Galápagos Marine Reserve, showing 379 sharks from seven species, with 89% being juveniles and 64% female. The team examined and measured every shark found aboard an illegal fishing vessel seized by Ecuadorian authorities in the Galápagos Marine Reserve in July 2011, identifying species, sex, and size of each animal. 379 sharks from seven species were found aboard the illegal vessel, dominated by pelagic thresher sharks (303 individuals). 89% of all sharks caught were juveniles, well below reproductive maturity. 64% of the catch was female, creating a skewed sex ratio harmful to population recovery. The vessel was equipped with long line fishing gear and had systematically removed heads and fins from many sharks. The research provides rare quantitative evidence of illegal shark fishing's severe impact on vulnerable species in supposedly protected areas, demonstrating that current enforcement is inadequate to protect important shark populations from commercial exploitation.
Citation
Carr, Lindsey A.; Stier, Adrian C.; Fietz, Katharina; Montero, Ignacio; Gallagher, Austin J.; Bruno, John F. (2013). Illegal shark fishing in the Galápagos Marine Reserve. Marine Policy.
Cite this article
Carr et al. (2013). Illegal Shark Fishing in the Galápagos Marine Reserve Documented. Ocean Recoveries Lab. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2012.12.005
