Abstract

Sharks are valued fisheries resources in Trinidad and Tobago ranking fourth in the total estimated landings of the artisanal fishery. They are caught primarily as bycatch of the artisanal gill-net fishery but are landed as by catch of almost all other fisheries such as the artisanal pelagic, and demersal hook and line fisheries for mackerels and snappers, respectively; the beach seine fishery for mackerels and the demersal trawl fishery for penaeid shrimps. There is in addition a small-directed fishery targeting largely the Brazilian sharpnose, Rhizoprionodon lalandii. This species is one of the five most important species comprising the artisanal landings, which averages about 800 metric tons per year. Sharks are also an important component of the landings of the small, offshore, semi-industrial pelagic longline fleet for tunas and swordfish. In response to national concerns for the sustainability of shark fisheries, Trinidad and Tobago is developing its National Plan of Action for Sharks under the Food and Agriculture Organization’s International Plan of Action (IPOA) for sharks. This poster presents some of the elements of the plan and associated assessment report, namely description of the fishery, brief status of the knowledge of the main species, catch and effort data and the major issues for management as required under the IPOA.

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