Experts suggest coordinated action to tackle illegal shark fishing and trade

Marine experts have called for coordinated action and increased awareness to tackle illegal shark fishing and trade.

An interactive workshop and panel discussion organised by ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) here on Monday (July 14) highlighted the importance of collaboration among various agencies to ensure the conservation of protected species in the wake of India’s recent expansion of the list of sharks and rays protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, according to a communication.

Experts who attended the meeting felt the need to identify gaps in monitoring and enforcement. Habitat mapping, public awareness campaigns, gear modification, demarcation of conserved areas, AI-supported shark recognition devices, and an identification manual were proposed at the workshop.

Shark fins in frozen form may often be difficult to identify by enforcement agencies, requiring the need for a strengthened collective capacity among all agencies involved in fisheries management, trade regulation, biodiversity conservation, and enforcement, the release said.

Inaugurating the workshop, Shaik Khader Rahman, Chief Commissioner, CGST & Customs, said that joint training exercises and a real-time communication channel among Customs, Fisheries officers, Coastal police, researchers, and Forest and Wildlife departments were essential for effective enforcement. There is a need to forge lasting understanding and actionable strategies between conservation and enforcement, he added.