Improving scientific advice on deep-water sharks in the SIOFA Area

While fisheries in the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) primarily target demersal and bentho-pelagic species such as toothfish and orange roughy, they often accidentally catch deepwater sharks, particularly Portuguese dogfish, Birdbeak dogfish, Kitefin sharks, Gulper sharks and Lanternsharks. This study provides updated information and advice regarding deepwater sharks in SIOFA fisheries. It assessed progress in the evaluation and assessment of their conservation status and identified appropriate options for management, using recent methodological advances in their assessment, as well as new data and information. 

The study was accomplished using field-based and desk-based methods. Field-based methods include tagging deepwater sharks using conventional and electronic tags, and biological data collection on board a commercial fishing vessel. The desk-based methods included literature review that was used to gather information on life history parameters of deepwater shark species, and secondary data collation where catch data were gathered to assess status of the shark species. 

The findings were synthesised and used to provide recommendations on the level to which deepwater sharks conservation management measures could be modified to better address the aims set out by SIOFA.

The published final report is available at https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/7fc2c083-8f84-…