STATUS OF DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL PLANS OF ACTION (NPOA) FOR SHARKS AND SEABIRDS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FAO GUIDELINES TO REDUCE MARINE TURTLE MORTALITY IN FISHING OPERATIONS

1^st: April 2004

2^nd: July 2012

3rd: 2021

4th: 2024

1^st: 1998 2^nd: 2006 3^rd: 2014

NPOA in 2018.

Sharks: 3rd NPOA-Sharks (Shark-plan 3) was released in 2021 replacing the previous Shark-plan 2.

Seabirds: Australia has implemented a Threat Abatement Plan [TAP] for the Incidental Catch (or Bycatch) of Seabirds During Oceanic Longline Fishing Operations since 1998. The present TAP took effect from 2014 and largely fulfills the role of an NPOA in terms of longline fisheries. http://www.antarctica.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/21509/Threat-Abatement-Plan-2014.pdf

In 2018, Australia finalised an NPOA to address the potential risk posed to seabirds by other fishing methods, including longline fishing in state and territory waters, which are not covered by the current threat abatement plan.

Marine turtles: Australia's current marine turtle bycatch management and mitigation measures fulfil Australia’s obligations under the FAO-Sea turtles Guidelines.

Sharks: Bangladesh has finalised a NPOA for shark and rays which will be in place for 2023-2027. The Wildlife Conservation and Security Act introduced in 2012 lays out general rules on requirements for hunting wild animals but no specific mention of sharks. The Wildlife Conservation and Security Act was introduced in 2012 states: No person shall hunt any wild animal without license, or import or export any wild animal without a CITES certificate 

Seabirds: Bangladesh currently do not have a NPOA for seabirds. The Wildlife Conservation and Security Act introduced in 2012 lays out general rules on permits required to hunt wild animals and includes provisions for the protection of seabirds. Bangladesh does not have any flagged purse seine or longline vessels so do not consider there to be any problems with seabird interactions in their fisheries.

Marine turtles: Bangladesh currently have no information on their implementation of FAO guidelines on sea turtles. The Wildlife Conservation and Security Act introduced in 2012 lays out general rules on requirements for hunting wild animals but no specific mention of turtles. A Marine Fisheries Rules act was finalised in 2023 which requires the use of turtle excluder devices onboard shrimp trawlers. The act also requires live release of marine turtles for all gear and the mandatory use of circle hooks for hook and line fishing. 

Sharks: China is currently considering developing an NPOA for sharks. Regulations relating to the conservation of sharks managed by RFMOs has been updated. Targeted distant water fisheries for sharks are prohibited and vessels must avoid or reduce catching of sharks. Sharks (species not under a retention ban) caught shall be fully utilised and finning is prohibited. Longliners are prohibited from using shark lines.

Seabirds: Development has not begun, China is currently considering developing an NPOA for seabirds. Regulations relating to the conservation of seabirds managed by RFMOs has been updated. Vessels operating in the area south of 25ºS shall use two mitigation measures from: tori lines, night setting and weighted branch lines. 

Marine turtles: Regulations relating to the conservation of turtles managed by RFMOs has been updated. All longlines shall use circle hooks whenever possible. Longline vessels are encouraged to use finfish as bait, not squid. 

Sharks: NPOA sharks was developed in 2006 and revised in 2012. No further revisions are currently planned.

Seabirds: NPOA seabirds was developed in 20016 and revised in 2014. No further revisions are currently planned.

Marine turtles:  Wildlife Protection Act introduced in 2013, Protected Wildlife shall not be disturbed, abused, hunted, killed, traded, exhibited, displayed, owned, imported, exported, raised or bred, unless under special circumstances recognized in this or related legislation.  Cheloniidae spp., Caretta Caretta, Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata, Lepidochelys olivacea and Dermochelys coriacea are listed into List of Protected Species. Domestic Fisheries Management Regulation on Far Sea Fisheries request that all fishing vessels must carry line cutters, de-hookers and hauling nets in order to facilitate the appropriate handling and prompt release of marine turtles caught or entangled.

Sharks: No NPOA has been developed. Shark finning is prohibited but measures are difficult to enforce due to the artisanal nature of the fisheries. A campaign to raise awareness of measures is being implemented to improve compliance. Shark catches and size frequency data are submitted to IOTC.

Seabirds: No NPOA has been developed. There is no fleet in operation south of 25 degrees south and no long-line fleet. The main fishery is artisanal operating within 24 miles of the coast where there is low risk of interactions with seabirds.

Marine turtles: According to the Comoros Fisheries Code Article 78, fishing, capture, possession and marketing of turtle and marine mammals or of protected aquatic organisms is strictly forbidden in accordance with national legislation in force and International Conventions applicable to the Comoros.

European Union

[EN] [FR]

Sharks [EN]/[FR]: The European Community Action Plan for the conservation and management of sharks was approved on 05-Feb-2009 and it is currently being implemented.

Seabirds [EN]/[FR]: On Friday 16 November 2012 an Action Plan to address the problem of incidental catches of seabirds in fishing gears was adopted by the EU.

Marine turtles [EN]/[FR]: European Union Council Regulation (EC) No 520/2007 of 7 May 2007 lays down technical measures for the conservation of migratory species including marine turtles incorporating articles and provisions to reduce marine turtle bycatch. The regulation urges Member States to do their utmost to reduce the impact of fishing on sea turtles, in particular by applying the measures provided for in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of the resolution.

Sharks [EN]/[FR]: The conservation of sharks and rays in France and its Overseas Territories of La Réunion and Mayotte is addressed within the framework of the EU NPOA sharks which was approved on 05-Feb-2009.

Seabirds: NPOA seabirds were finalised in 2009 and 2011. Revisions were developed in 2009 for Barrau’s petrel and 2019 for Amsterdam albatross which will be in force from 2018-2027.

Marine turtles: Implemented in 2015 for the five species of marine turtles that are present in the southwest Indian Ocean for the period 2015-2020. This is still being applied and currently is under evaluation in view of its renewal.

Sharks: NPOA sharks is in preparation. In June 2015, India published a document entitled “Guidance on National Plan of Action for Sharks in India” which is intended as a guidance to the NPOA-Sharks, and seeks to (1) present an overview of the currents status of India’s shark fishery, (2) assess the current management measures and their effectiveness, (3) identify the knowledge gaps that need to be addressed in NPOA-Sharks and (4) suggest a theme-based action plan for NPOA-Sharks.

Seabirds: India has determined that seabird interactions are not a problem for their fleets. However, a formal evaluation has not yet taken place which the WPEB and SC require.

Marine turtles: No information received by the Secretariat.

Sharks: Indonesia first drafted a NPOA in 2010 then later developed a revised NPOA for sharks and rays for the period 2016-2020. Indonesia is in the process of revising the latest version of the shark NPOA. Indonesia has also established a national plan of action for whale sharks from 2021-2025 through Ministerial Decree No. 16 of 2021.

Seabirds: An NPOA seabirds was finalized in 2016.

Marine turtles: Indonesia established an NPOA for Marine Turtles in 2022. Indonesia has also been implementing Ministerial Regulations 12/2012 and 30/2012 regarding capture fishing business on high seas to reduce turtle bycatch. Indonesia is also cooperating with Coral Triangle countries including Malaysia, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Timor Leste through Coral Triangle Initiatives on Coral Reefs, Fish, and Food Security (CTI CFF) platform to protect threatened migratory species, including marine turtles. The CTI CFF is now developing a regional plan of action (RPOA) 2020-2030 and areas of critical habitats, such as migratory corridors, nesting beaches, and Inter-nesting and feeding areas, have been identified. 

Sharks: I.R. Iran have communicated to all fishing cooperatives the IOTC resolutions on sharks.  There is a ban in place on the retention of live sharks.

Seabirds: I.R. Iran determined that seabird interactions are not a problem for their fleet as they consist of gillnet vessels only. i.e. no longline vessels, therefore no NPOA has been developed.

Marine turtles: The National Action Plan for the Protection of Iranian Sea Turtles has been developed with the guidance and participation and approval of the Iranian Department of the Environment. The details of this plan will be communicated with the secretariat.

Sharks: NPOA Shark assessment implementation report was submitted to COFI in July 2012 and has since been revised in 2016 and 2023.

Seabirds: NPOA Seabird implementation report was submitted to COFI in July 2012 (Revised in 2016).

Marine turtles: All Japanese fleets fully implement Resolution 12/04.

Sharks: A National Plan of Action for sharks has been finalised and is awaiting cabinet approval. This document shall put in place a framework to ensure the conservation and management of sharks and their long-term sustainable use in Kenya. 

Seabirds: Kenya does not have any flagged longline vessels on its registry. There is no evidence of any gear seabird interaction with the current fishing fleet. Kenya has started to prepare a NPOA for seabirds in 2023. 

Marine turtles: The Kenyan fisheries law prohibits retention and landing of turtles caught incidentally in fishing operations. Public awareness efforts are conducted for artisanal gillnet and artisanal longline fishing fleets on the mitigations measures that enhance marine turtle conservation.  Kenya has started to prepare a NPOA for turtles in 2023.

Sharks: NPOA sharks was finalised in 2011 and is currently being implemented.

Seabirds: NPOA seabirds was finalised in 2014 and submitted to FAO in 2019.

Marine turtles: All Rep. of Korea vessels fully implement Res 12/04 and FAO guidelines relating to sea turtles.

Sharks: Madagascar has recently developed a NPOA for sharks which is awaiting final ministerial approval.

Seabirds: Development has not begun. Note: A fisheries monitoring system is in place in order to ensure compliance by vessels with the IOTC’s shark and seabird conservation and management measures.

Marine turtles: There is zero capture of marine turtle within the logbook. All the longliners use the circular hooks since. Declaration confirmed by the onboard observers and the on-landing samplers.

Sharks: A revised NPOA-sharks was published in 2014.

Seabirds: To be developed

Marine turtles: A NPOA For Conservation and Management of Sea Turtles had been published in 2008. A revision will be published in 2017.

Sharks: NPOA Sharks was finalised in 2015 with the assistance of Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BoBLME) Project. The longline logbooks ensure the collection of shark bycatch data to genus level. Maldives would be reporting on shark bycatch to the appropriate technical Working Party meetings of IOTC. On 14^th July 2019 the Government of Maldives officially announced the cessation of the Maldives Long line fishery in Maldives EEZ and High Seas so consider the NPOA for sharks to now be unnecessary.

Seabirds: Maldives is in the final stages of developing an action plan on seabird nesting sites. Article 12 of IPOA states that if a ‘problem exists’ CPCs adopt an NPOA. IOTC Resolution 05/09 suggests CPCs to report on seabirds to the IOTC Scientific Committee if the issue is appropriate'. Maldives considers that seabird entanglement and bycatch is not an issue in Maldives fisheries especially with the recent cessation of the Maldives Long line fishery.

Marine turtles: Standards of code and conduct for managing sea turtles have been developed by the Environmental Protection Agency in the drafted National sea turtle management plan under the protected species regulation.

Longline regulation has provisions to reduce marine turtle bycatch. The regulation urges longline vessels to have dehookers for removal of hook and a line cutter on board, to release the caught marine turtles as prescribed in Resolution 12/04.

Sharks: The NPOA-sharks has been finalised but not published; it focuses on actions needed to exercise influence on foreign fishing through the IOTC process and licence conditions, as well as improving the national legislation and the skills and data handling systems available for managing sharks.

Seabirds: Mauritius does not have national vessels operating beyond 25^oS. However, fishing companies have been requested to implement all mitigation measures as provided in the IOTC Resolutions.

Marine turtles: Marine turtles are protected by the national law. Fishing companies have been requested to carry line cutters and de-hookers in order to facilitate the appropriate handling and prompt release of marine turtles caught or entangled.

Sharks: Drafting of the NPOA-Shark started in 2016. At this stage, baseline and risk assessments have been performed and the relevant information of coastal, pelagic and demersal shark species along the Mozambican coast has been gathered. These assessments are now being considered in the draft of the NPOA. This is an ongoing process.

Seabirds: Mozambique is regularly briefing the Masters of their fishing vessels on the mandatory requirement to report any seabird interaction with longliner fleet.

Marine turtles:  see above.

Sharks: The drafting of a NPOA-sharks started in 2017 but has not yet been finalised.

Seabirds: Not yet initiated

Marine turtles: The law does not allow the catch of sea turtles, and the fishermen are requested to release any hooked or entangled turtle. The longline fleet are required to carry out the line cutters and de-hookers.

Sharks: A stakeholder consultation workshop was conducted in 2016 to review the actions of the draft NPOA - Sharks. The final version of the NPOA - Sharks has been submitted to the provincial fisheries departments for endorsement but has not yet been finalised. Meanwhile, the provincial fisheries departments have passed notification on catch, trade and/or retention of sharks including Thresher sharks, hammerheads, oceanic whitetip, whale sharks, guitarfishes, sawfishes, wedgefishes and mobulids. Sharks are landed with the fins attached and each and every part of the body of sharks are utilised. 

Seabirds: Pakistan considers that seabird interactions are not a problem for the Pakistani fishing fleet as the tuna fishing operations do not include longline vessels.

Marine turtles: Pakistan has already framed Regulations regarding the prohibition of catching and retaining marine turtles. As regards to the reduction of marine turtle bycatch by gillnetters; presently Marine Fisheries Department (MFD) in collaboration with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Pakistan, is undertaking an assessment. Stakeholder Coordination Committee Meeting was conducted on 10^th September 2014. The “Turtle Assessment Report (TAR)” will be finalized by February 2015 and necessary guidelines / action plan will be finalized by June 2015. As per clause-5 (c) of Pakistan Fish Inspection & Quality Control Act, 1997, “Aquatic turtles, tortoises, snakes, mammals including dugongs, dolphins, porpoises and whales etc” are totally forbidden for export and domestic consumption.  

Sharks: A NPOA sharks was published in 2009 and this document is under periodic review.

Seabirds: Development has not begun.

Marine turtles: No information received by the Secretariat.

Sharks: Seychelles developed and is implementing a NPOA for Sharks for years 2016-2020 which has been extended for 2024. Seychelles are working to develop a new NPOA for sharks which should be complete by mid-2025.

Seabirds:SFA is collaborating with Birdlife South Africa to develop an NPOA for seabirds. The industrial longline fleet of Seychelles has been instructed to conform with the requirements of Res. 12/06.

Marine turtles: The developmen of a NPOA for turtles is planned to start in 2025. 

IOTC mandatory requirements for marine turtles are being addressed through the ATF (Certificate of Authorisation to Fish). Data reporting requirements are addressed via logbook and observer programmes.

Sharks: Somalia is currently revising its fisheries legislation (current one being from 1985) and will consider the development of NPOAs as part of this revision process. A consultation process has begun in order to develop the NPOA for Sharks.

Seabirds: There are no purse seine or long line vessels operating under the Somalia flag, the only fleet is a small-scale artisanal fishery. Seabird bycatch does not occur in this fishery. However, a consultation process has begun in order to develop the NPOA for Seabirds.

Marine turtles: The Somali national fisheries law and legislation was reviewed and approved in 2014. This includes Articles on the protection of marine turtles. Further review of the National Law is underway to harmonize this with IOTC Resolutions and is expected to be presented to the new parliament for endorsement in 2017. A consultation process has begun in order to implement FAO guidelines on reducing sea turtle mortality.  

Sharks: The NPOA-sharks was first approved and published in 2013. A revised version of the document was finalised in 2022 following extensive review including input from the research community and affected stakeholders.

Seabirds: The NPOA seabirds was published in August 2008 and has been fully implemented since then. An updated NPOA has been drafted and is now awaiting approval.

Marine turtles: All FAO guidelines to reduce marine turtle mortality have been inserted into permit conditions. A report from 2019 on the implementation of FAO guidelines to reduce marine turtle mortality has been provided to the IOTC. Bycatch in South African fisheries is considered to be very low. The permit conditions for the longline fishery prohibits landing of turtles. Vessels have to carry a de-hooker on board and instructions on turtle handling and release in line with the FAO guidelines are included in the permit conditions. Trained observers are present on 100% of the trips of foreign vessels that fish under South African jurisdiction and all turtle interactions on these trips are recorded. Since 2013 recording of turtle interactions in the log books is mandatory and each vessel is provided with a species identification guide.

Sharks: The first NPOA-sharks was finalized in 2013 then revised in 2018 which was valid until 2022. This version is in the process of being reviewed with assistance from CEFAS. Shark data collection is done through logbooks and a large pelagic data collection programme. NARA has started to collect fisheries and biological data on blue, silky and scalloped hammerhead sharks. 

Seabirds: Sri Lanka has determined that seabird interactions are not a problem for their fleets. However, a formal review has not yet been provided to the WPEB and SC for approval.

Marine turtles: Implementation of the FAO Guideline to Reduce Sea Turtle Mortality in Fishing Operation in 2015 was submitted to IOTC in January 2016. Marine turtles are legally protected in Sri Lanka. Longliner vessels are required to have dehookers for removal of hooks and a line cutter on board, to release the caught marine turtles. Gillnets longer than 2.5 km are now prohibited in domestic legislation. Reporting of bycatch has made legally mandatory and facilitated via logbooks.

Sharks: No information received by the Secretariat.

Seabirds: No information received by the Secretariat.

Marine turtles: No information received by the Secretariat.

Sharks: A NPOA has been drafted but not finalised. 

Seabirds: Initial discussions on the development of NPOA seabirds have commenced. Note: Terms and conditions related to protected sharks and seabirds contained within fishing licenses.

Marine turtles: Sea turtles are protected by law. However as there is a national turtle and Dugong conservation committee that oversee all issues related to sea turtles and dugongs. There is no information so far with regards to interactions between sea turtles and long line fishery.

Sharks: The second NPOA sharks has been finalised for the period 2020-2024 and and has been submitted to the Secretariat and FAO.

Seabirds: Currently the draft NPOA – Seabirds for Thailand is awaiting approval from relevant Committees. This draft has been provided to the IOTC Secretariat. The final NPOA will be uploaded to this webpage when made available to the Secretariat. Thailand has the Notification of the Department of Fisheries on Requirement and Regulations of Fishing Vessels Operating Outside Thai Water in IOTC Area of Competence (IOTC) B.E. 2565 (2022), Clause 18 and 21 include requirements for line-cutters and dehookers to be carried for releasing marine animals and for any fishing vessel operating south of 25^oS to follow the measures for mitigating capture of seabirds.

Marine turtles:  Thailand reports on progress of the implementation of FAO guidelines on turtles in their National Report to IOTC. Regulations on Fishing Vessels operating outside Thai waters in the IOTC area of competence contains clauses relating to the conservation of marine turtles including: Clause 14 prohibiting purse seines from setting around cetaceans, marine turtles or whale sharks; Clause 18 requiring the release and recording of incidental bycatch of sensitive species including marine turtles; Clause 19 requiring that any bycaught marine turtles that are not healthy should be cared for until it is ready to be released.

British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) waters are a Marine Protected Area closed to fishing except recreational fishing in the 3nm territorial waters around Diego Garcia. Separate NPOAs have not been developed within this context. Encounters of illegal fishing are fully documented and reported through the Compliance committee, but these would not be covered by NPOAs as they concern foreign flagged fishing vessels.

Sharks/Seabirds: For sharks, UK is the 24^th signatory to the Convention on Migratory Species ‘Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks’ which extends the agreement to UK Overseas Territories including the British Indian Ocean Territory; Section 7 (10) (e) of the Fisheries (Conservation and Management) Ordinance refers to recreational fishing and requires sharks to be released alive and unharmed. No seabirds are caught in the recreational fishery.

Marine turtles: No marine turtles are captured in the recreational fishery. A monitoring programme is taking place to assess the marine turtle population in UK (OT) including maintaining records of turtle nests encountered during island patrols.

In August 2022 the UK Government published the Bycatch Mitigation Initiative which applies to metropolitan UK waters but includes commitments to work with the international community to contribute to the understanding, reduction and elimination of bycatch globally, including by advocating for effective measures through RFMOs.

Sharks: No information received by the Secretariat.

Seabirds: No information received by the Secretariat.

Marine turtles: No information received by the Secretariat.

Sharks: No information received by the Secretariat.

Seabirds: No information received by the Secretariat.

Marine turtles: No information received by the Secretariat.

Sharks: The Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission supported the development of a NPOA-sharks for Senegal in 2005. Other activities conducted include the organization of consultations with industry, the investigation of shark biology and social -economics of shark fisheries). The NPOA is currently being revised. Consideration is being made to the inclusion of minimum mesh size, minimum shark size, and a ban on shark finning.

Seabirds: The need for a NPOA-seabirds has not yet been assessed.

Marine turtles: No information received by the Secretariat.