Protection Proposed for Lemon Shark in Florida
Fish and Wildlife Commission Considers Prohibited Species Status
Nov 12, 2009
The lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) gathers in large numbers in shallow waters off of Florida during the winter. The area is also an important nursery. Without protection from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, lemon sharks populations may be targeted for increased fishing effort. The Atlantic population, which is already considered Near Threatened, may be devastated by this change.
Threats to Lemon Sharks in Florida
Commercial long line fisheries, particularly those involved in shark finning, harvest large numbers of lemon sharks each year. The lemon shark is also caught in US recreational fisheries, including fishing tournaments, where the sharks are often killed and then discarded.
One of the reasons these fisheries and tournaments are a particular problem is that the waters off the Florida Keys are nursery grounds and females returning to give birth are often caught. As lemon sharks don’t reach maturity until they are over ten years old, this fishery creates a drain on the breeding population.
Lemon sharks are also popular in the aquarium trade and in research. Their skin is considered one of the best for the leather industry. And they are one of many species of shark whose squalene is used in the cosmetics industry.
Proposed Protection for Atlantic Lemon Sharks
Lemon sharks are listed as Near Threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). When the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission meets in December of 2009, they will decide whether to include the lemon shark on the Prohibited Species List. The Shark Safe Network, a coalition of scientists, conservationists and divers, is petitioning for their inclusion on the list.
While the lemon shark fishery had been a relatively small one, some other commercially valuable shark species are now on the prohibited list. Fishermen are looking to replace them with lemon shark catches.
Florida waters are host to a large aggregation of lemon sharks every winter. Satellite tagging studies have shown that lemon sharks from the entire Eastern Seaboard arrive there each year. In addition, the sharks congregate in shallow waters, making them easy to catch.
By putting lemon sharks on the prohibited list, it is hoped that the species will be prevented from a precipitous decline. Since the sharks are slow to mature, any steep decline in adult populations is likely to take many years to turn around.
Catch and Release Shark Fishing Tournaments Supported
Ending deadly shark fishing tournaments, where many of the animals caught are simply thrown away, is another way that Shark Safe Network is working to protect multiple species of shark. Some shark fishing tournaments have already gone 100% catch and release and others are considering the option.
In other parts of the world, the whale shark, largest of the sharks, is also being looked at for increased protection. As the value of shark species in the ocean ecosystem is increasingly recognized, international governmental organizations are beginning to prioritize shark conservation as a way to ensure the health of the seas.
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