Shark Stewards is supporting a proposed ruling for a Retention Prohibition of Oceanic Whitetip Sharks in U.S. Atlantic Waters and Hammerhead Sharks in the U.S. Caribbean Sea. We are also advocating the Inter-Atlantic Tropical Tuna Commission Fisheries Management Organizations and Commissions to adopt measures following those set by the State of Hawai'i and the Western and Central Pacific Commission to eliminate wire shark lines and wire leaders in longline fisheries.

 The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries agency (NOAA Fisheries) announced a proposed rule to consider prohibiting the commercial and recreational retention of oceanic whitetip sharks in U.S. waters of the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, and all hammerhead sharks in the large coastal shark complex in the U.S. Caribbean region. The proposed rule would add oceanic whitetip sharks to the prohibited shark species group and prohibit the commercial and recreational retention of great, smooth, and scalloped hammerhead sharks in the U.S. Caribbean region.

Protecting oceanic whitetip sharks is important for several reasons:

• Biodiversity: Oceanic whitetip sharks are a vital part of the marine ecosystem. They help maintain the health and balance of ocean ecosystems by regulating prey populations and playing a role in the food web.
• Apex Predators: As apex predators, oceanic whitetip sharks help control the populations of other marine species. This, in turn, can have cascading effects on the entire marine ecosystem. Protecting them ensures the stability of these ecosystems.
• Ecotourism: Healthy populations of oceanic whitetip sharks can support sustainable ecotourism industries. Many divers and tourists are drawn to locations where they can observe these sharks, contributing to local economies.
• Scientific Research: Oceanic whitetip sharks provide valuable insights into marine biology and behavior. Studying them can help scientists better understand shark populations and their role in the ocean.
• Cultural and Economic Value: In some regions, oceanic whitetip sharks are culturally significant and provide a source of livelihood for local communities through shark fisheries. Sustainable management and protection can help maintain these cultural and economic aspects.
• Keystone Species: Protecting oceanic whitetip sharks is part of a broader effort to conserve keystone species. These are species that have a disproportionate impact on their ecosystems, and losing them can lead to imbalances in the marine environment.
• Ecosystem Health: The presence of oceanic whitetip sharks in an ecosystem is often indicative of its overall health. The decline of these sharks can signal problems within the ecosystem that need attention.
• Conservation of Other Species: Efforts to protect oceanic whitetip sharks often involve the establishment of marine protected areas or regulations that benefit a range of marine life, not just the sharks themselves.
• Global Connectivity: Oceanic whitetip sharks are migratory and travel across international waters. Their conservation requires international cooperation, which can set a positive precedent for addressing broader marine conservation issues.

In recent years, these sharks have faced significant threats from overfishing, bycatch, and habitat degradation. Efforts to protect them, such as through conservation measures, regulations, and the establishment of marine reserves, are essential for ensuring the survival and well-being of oceanic whitetip sharks and the overall health of our oceans.

These sharks, once the most abundant marine vertebrate species, have declined dramatically in the last 50 years. They are extirpated in much of their range, and have lost 90-95% of their original pre-fishing populations. With extremely high bycatch on longlines, the fins from oceanic whitetip sharks are highly coveted in Asia, representing 6% of the trade despite CITES protection.

We call on the National Marine Fisheries Service to lead the world in increased protection for OWTs through zero retention and gear changes in the NE Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Ocean Tuna Fisheries.

 Shark Stewards is submitting written comments in support of this proposed rule to protect endangered oceanic sharks.