CONSERVATION ISSUES - APRIL 2007

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Scientists have recently added several species of deep sea sharks to the World Conservation Union’s endangered Red List, due to over fishing. The scientists listed all three species of Thresher Sharks as “vulnerable globally”, and moved the short finned Mako to the category, “vulnerable today” from “near threatened.” They highlighted the vulnerability of these species to over fishing, and concluded that several species are now threatened with extinction on a global scale. They decided that the Blue Shark, the worlds most abundant and heavily fished pelagic shark, should remain in the “near threatened” category despite a decline in numbers of 50 to 70 percent in the North Atlantic, and there are scant conservation Measures. They also added the semi-pelagic Scalloped Hammerhead to the “endangered” category while the Pelagic Stingray was put in the “least concern” category, which is still part of the IUCN Red List. The Red List categories range from “extinct” to “not evaluated”. Pelagic sharks are often taken unintentionally during swordfish and tuna fishing , but are increasingly being targeted as markets develop for their meat and demand grows for their fins for the highly prised Asian delicacy, Sharks Fin Soup. Bans on shark finning  - slicing off a shark’s fins –have been adopted for most international waters, but standards of enforcement are low.

The scientists underscored the urgent need for international fishery commissions to limit fishing for these vulnerable species, and strengthen regulations on the wasteful practice of finning. They considered that the Hammerhead was among the most endangered, because although their meat is of low value, their fins are highly prized, and they provide valuable oil from the liver. 

Scientists are studying a section of the River Fal to establish if pollution from fields is damaging a mussel farm. The move follows a downgrading of water quality where mussels are grown near The King Harry Ferry at Feock. They will be examining if the pollution comes from fields, animals or human sources. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (Defra) spokesman said, the project will be used on the Fal, but will also help to provide answers to similar concerns in South West estuaries and beyond.

There were 6 reported sightings of Bottlenose Dolphins during March, 5 were off the north coast from St Ives to Porthreath, and a pod of about 6 was seen off Gyllyngvase Beach, Falmouth on the 24th. The sighting off Portreath was of 8 on the 25th., so again it looks as if the south coast sighting is of a different pod. A single unidentified dolphin was seen off Cape Cornwall on 12th March. 10 of the 11 reported sightings of Harbour Porpoises were all around West Penwith again, from St. Ives to The Minack Cliff Theatre, the other report was of 2 off The Lizard. They are being seen in larger pods than usual and there was a remarkable report of about 100 heading east off the NCI Lookout at St. Ives at 0730 hrs on the 15th March and 15 were seen that afternoon returning west.     

                                                                 Conservation Officer Raymond Dennis

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