Whitetip sharks come under protection in New Zealand waters
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E-mail Xinhua, September 27, 2012
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The oceanic whitetip shark. [Baidu Photo] |
Under the proposed changes, deliberate taking of whitetip sharks in New Zealand fisheries waters would become unlawful.
Reporting of accidental captures of the sharks during fishing operations would be mandatory, with fines up to 10,000 NZ dollars (8,254 U.S. dollars) possible for non-reporting.
Deliberate taking of whitetip sharks would be punishable with a fine of up to 250,000 NZ dollars or up to six months in prison.
The Department of Conservation was working with the Ministry for Primary Industries who had proposed a ban on the catching of the species by New Zealand vessels on the high seas, said Wilkinson.
The whitetip shark is a highly migratory species, commonly caught by fishers targeting tropical tuna, according to the Ministry for Primary Industries.
Concerns have been raised about its status and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature has classified it as "vulnerable."
In March, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission adopted a measure requiring member nations, including New Zealand, to prohibit landings or sale of oceanic whitetip shark, following similar bans by other international fisheries organisations.
The measures were aimed at ensuring the oceanic whitetip shark can recover to a healthy population level.
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