Abstract
The most likely cause for the decline of many elasmobranchs is the combination of high fishing
pressure and slow reproductive life-history characteristics. Akey ambition of the Dutch
Caribbean Nature Policy Plan 2013-2017, is the effective implementation of shark protection.
The first step towards effective protection is to conduct a base-line survey and to develop robust,
quantifiable objectives and reference points for conservation (and fisheries) in order to be able to
evaluate the performance of management actions. Stereo Baited Remote Underwater Video
Survey (BRUVS) is a non-invasive method to study species richness, relative abundance and
accurate length frequency of fish species such as sharks. In this study we used BRUVS to
conduct a base-line survey of sharks on St Eustatius, Saba, and the Saba Bank. Shark
assemblages were structured by habitat complexity, depth and to a lesser extend management
zone. Overall, the shark populations appeared to be in reasonably healthy state. Relative
abundance of the different shark species was higher than reported for similar BRUV studies
within the Caribbean. A possible explanation for the current status of the shark populations in the
Caribbean Netherlands is the lack of destructive industrial-scale fishery practices (directed shark
fisheries, shark finning, long-lining, or gillnetting). The establishment of a formal shark
sanctuary in the Caribbean Netherlands would prevent the future development of such
destructive fishery practises without completely restricting the occasional landing of sharks as
by-catch in the existing artisanal, small-scale fisher.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Book of abstracts of the 67th Annual Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Conference |
Pages | 48 |
Publication status | Published - 2014 |
Event | 67th GCFI - Barbados, Christ Church, Barbados - Duration: 3 Nov 2014 → 7 Nov 2014 |
Conference
Conference | 67th GCFI - Barbados, Christ Church, Barbados |
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Period | 3/11/14 → 7/11/14 |