Venezuela Bans Commercial Shark Fishing
Venezuela has set forth a series of measures for shark protection within its waters. Commercial shark fishing is now prohibited throughout the 2,211 square kilometers of the Caribbean Sea that make up the Los Roques Archipelago, whose pristine beaches and coral reefs make it a diving and fishing attraction. Commercial shark fishing is now prohibited throughout the 2,211 square kilometers of the Caribbean Sea that make up the Los Roques Archipelago, whose pristine beaches and coral reefs make it a diving and fishing attraction.
The Los Roques islands comprises of about 350 islands, cays or islets. Because of the wide variety of seabirds and rich aquatic life, the Venezuelan government declared the Islas Los Roques a National Park in 1972.
Scientists have identified Los Roques, located about 128 kilometers off the Venezuelan coast as an important breeding ground and nursery of several species of sharks, including the lemon shark and Caribbean reef shark.
"Our research has found that newborn sharks in the mangroves and cays of Los Roques migrate throughout the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean," said Rafael Tavares, an expert with Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrícolas (INIA), Venezuela, who has researched sharks in the region for nearly 20 years. "These new, far-reaching protections would not be possible without the support of the Los Roques community, especially the local fishermen."
The new regulation also prohibits the practice of shark finning and mandates that all of animals caught in Venezuelan waters must be brought to port with their fins naturally attached.
"Venezuela's decision to prohibit shark finning means that it now joins the rest of the countries of South America , North America and Central America in banning this wasteful practice," said Jill Hepp, manager of global shark conservation at the Pew Environment Group. "Combined with the breeding ground safe haven in Los Roques and Las Aves, this is the latest step in the growing global movement to save these magnificent animals."It is estimated that up to 73 million are killed annually for their fins, primarily due to increased demand for shark fin soup.