International fisheries agreement: Review of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas case study - Shark management

To properly manage world fisheries, especially highly migratory species, there are numerous treaties that have been implemented by specialized international fishery commissions. One of the oldest organizations is the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). The main focus of this review was to summarize the history, roles and responsibilities of ICCAT, and to evaluate ICCAT's management of sharks in general and specifically for shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) shark. This review found that the Convention was established 40 years ago, but it wits not until 2004 that the commission conducted its first population assessment on pelagic sharks. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.