Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, recently noted the Government would move to introduce legislative amendments to ensure that international changes to the status of mako sharks would not affect recreational fishing activities in Australia, an issue which has been a concern to many recreational anglers.

Under the national environment law, species listed internationally under the Convention on Migratory Species are automatically put Australia's migratory species list. But due to the lack of evidence suggesting Australian populations of these species are under the same threats as those in other parts of the world, particularly the northern hemisphere, the government has chosen to act differently.

As the listing of the three shark species is taking effect on 29 January, and passing of the legislation must wait till the resumption of the Parliament, the Government has stated that catch and release fishing of the species is not expected to have a significant impact on populations and is therefore unlikely to be subject to enforcement action.



Posted 28 January 2010