Atlantic Shortfin Mako: Chronicle of a Death Foretold?

• Published in: Laws
• Main Authors: Mercedes Rosello, Juan Vilata, Dyhia Belhabib
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2021
• Subjects: fisheries; bycatch; mako; UNCLOS; UNFSA; ICCAT; CITES; North Atlantic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/laws10030052

This article outlines recent events concerning the conservation and management trajectory of a highly migratory shark species, the shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus), in the North Atlantic, where it has been routinely captured recreationally and as part of commercial fishing operations alongside other species. Noting recent warnings concerning the high mortality of the species in this ocean region, and the threat of imminent population collapse, this article sets out a number of applicable law of the sea provisions, and carries out an evaluation of relevant measures for target and incidental capture species, discussing their applicability to the mako fishery. It also presents an analysis of regional and global governance actions taken to date by the international community and by individual actors, noting a number of shortfalls, and outlining potential responses.