Survey for public/government entities – Governance of Sharks and Rays

This survey is designed for governmental and regulatory entities involved in marine biodiversity conservation and management. This also includes bodies/entities that regulate, control, and manage fisheries.

Please keep in mind that the questions relate to measures and regulations implemented nationally.

The term “sharks” in this project and the surveys refers to all elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays). Please consider this when filling in the survey.

Participant Information Sheet

- Step 1 of 9

1. Participant information and consent

I confirm that I have read and understood the participant information sheet. I agree to the conditions therein. I also confirm that I voluntarily participate in this survey and will answer the questions to the best of my knowledge.

Name *

First

Last

Email *

Current position *

Entity you are working for/represent *

Website address of the entity

Country *

Participant consent:

This agreement is made regarding the information provided through the survey which took place on [DATE]. In consideration of my participation in the research and other valuable consideration provided by the University of Plymouth (“University”), I declare the following:

I confirm that I have read and understood the participant information sheet for this study, and I have had the opportunity to ask questions about the study.

I voluntarily agree to participate in this research study.

I understand that I answer in my capacity as [POSITION] on behalf of [ORGANISATION/ENTITY/INSTITUTE/EXPERT DIVISION].

I understand that even if I agree to participate now, I can refuse to answer any question.

I understand that I can withdraw permission to use data from my interview/survey within one month after the interview/survey completion, in which case the material will be deleted.

I understand that I will not benefit directly from participating in this research.

I understand that my personal data (name, contact details, position) will not be disclosed and kept confidential.

I understand that in any report on the results of this research my identity will remain anonymous. This will be done by disguising any details of my interview which may reveal my identity or the identity of people I speak about and only report the results of my interview within specific groups or referring to my organisation/entity/institute/expert division.

I understand that the information provided in this survey/interview will be used and analysed within the course of this project and may be subject to publication.

I understand that the research will be written up as part of a PhD thesis by Lydia Koehler.

I grant to the researcher and the University the right to use this survey (in whole or in part, transcribed or otherwise) for educational, research, and promotional purposes, such uses include but not limited to the respective PhD thesis, print and online publication, and conference presentation.

I understand that disguised extracts from my interview/survey may be quoted in the respective PhD thesis, conference presentations, published papers.

I understand that signed consent form, survey responses and original audio recordings (interview) will be retained in a secured laptop with back-ups being saved on a password protected external hard drive and the University’s One Drive student account to which only the PhD student and her supervisors will have access. The forms and interviews will be stored there for two years after the end of the project/award of the PhD, maximum until end of 2025.

I agree that my data may be managed, stored and archived at the University in accordance with the UK Data Protection Act 1998 and that the University may store electronically the information and recordings outside the European Economic Area (EEA).

I understand that I am entitled to request a copy of my interview and respective forms at any time while it is in storage as specified above.

I understand that I am free to contact any of the people involved in the research to seek further clarification and information.

I understand that the Ethics Committee of the University has reviewed and approved this study.

I agree to taking part in the above study and recording, and hereby assign to the University all copyright in my contribution for use in all work resulting from this project.

I understand how to raise any concerns or complaints about this study.

I am aware that there are no compensation arrangements.

GDPR Agreement *

I consent to having this website store my submitted information so they can respond to my inquiry.

This consent form shall be governed in all respects by English law and the English courts.

Section 2: Shark conservation and management

This section focuses on conservation measures implemented nationally that support shark conservation. "Shark" includes sharks, skates, and rays.

Is “shark conservation” considered a priority in your country’s political agenda for marine conservation?

Yes.
No.
I do not know.

If “No”, please indicate what your current priority in terms of marine conservation is:

Is sustainability considered a priority in your country’s political agenda for fisheries?

Yes.
No.
I do not know.

If “No”, please indicate what your current priority in terms of fisheries management is:

Is there a National Plan of Action for Sharks (NPOA)?

Yes.
No.
There is (only) a Regional Plan of Action for Elasmobranches that is implemented nationally.

If there is a regional plan, please specify:

If yes, please indicate the current state of the NPOA (multiple may apply):

Under development (drafting stage)
Currently implemented
Updated (at least) every 4 years
Updated less than every 4 years
Not updated since first draft

Please submit a copy of the NPOA with this survey or provide a link to it:

File Upload

Click or drag a file to this area to upload.

Please list all shark species that are protected under national law. Or provide a link to the respective legislation.

How much of the national waters are designated as marine protected area (in km2)?

km2

Are there marine protected areas that do support shark conservation?

Yes. There are MPA(s) specifically designated for sharks.
Yes. There are MPA(s) in which sharks occur and that can benefit shark conservation through the conservation of important habitats/areas for sharks (e.g. nursery areas, foraging ground).
No. There are currently no MPA(s) for shark, but we are planning/envisaging to create MPAs for shark species in the future.
No. There are no MPAs that host sharks or are relevant for shark conservation.

If yes, please list the area (name, location, size) of the respective MPA for sharks and whether there is a management plan in place, and if so whether fishing is allowed or not (No-take area).

Please list MPA name, size, location, Shark species present in MPA, Management plan (Yes/No/ under development),No take area? (partial/full)

Are there species recovery plans for sharks in place?

Yes.
No.

If yes, please indicate for which shark species you have such recovery plans.

Please indicate any other conservation programmes or measures for shark species that are implemented nationally:

Please provide the reference to the applicable national legislation for these conservation measures:

Section 3: Fisheries, market, and trade regulations

This section focuses on measures and regulations implemented nationally that are relevant to fisheries, marketing, and trade of sharks.

3.1 Commercial fisheries

This section focuses on regulatory measures implemented for species subject to commercial fishing pressure. This section refers to commercial and artisanal fishing.

Is there a National Fisheries Management Plan in place?

Yes.
No.

If yes, please provide a link (or upload a copy).

File Upload

Click or drag a file to this area to upload.

Are sharks consumed/marketed nationally?

Yes.
No.

Please describe the (shark) fisheries taking place in your country.

Sharks may be caught, but they are not marketed.
Sharks are not targeted, but caught as non-target catch/bycatch and marketed/sold.
Only specific shark species are targeted, other caught as bycatch. Both are marketed.
Sharks are targeted in general and sold/marketed nationally.
Other.

If only certain species are targeted, please list these species.

If "Other", please provide details.

Are sharks considered “commercially important”?

Yes.
No.
I cannot say.

Are there subsidies for commercial fishing?

Yes.
No.
I cannot say.

If yes, please specify:

Regulations and measures implemented nationally for commercial fisheries

Please select as applicable to your country.

Is there a finning ban implemented nationally?

Yes.
No.

(Finning is the procedure where shark fins are removed on board of a fishing vessel and the body is discarded/thrown back into the sea.)

If yes, please specify:

Fin to carcass ratio
Fins naturally attached
Other.

If "Other", please specify:

Is there a retention ban implemented nationally?

Yes.
No.

(This means selected species cannot be retained on board of a fishing vessel and must be thrown back into the sea.)

If yes, please list species for which the ban applies:

Is there a fishing ban for sharks implemented nationally?

Yes.
No.

If yes, please specify:

Partially
Fully (all sharks, skates, and rays in national waters).

If there is a partial fishing ban, please list species for which the ban applies:

Are there stock assessments for shark species subject to fishing pressure?

Yes.
No.

If yes, please list species for which there are stock assessments in place:

Are controls executed at fishing/landing ports nationally?

Yes.
No.

If yes, please list how often/regular you exercise port controls on fishery landings:

Are national shark landings recorded/reported?

Yes.
No.

If yes, please indicate how shark landings are reported and whether there is a Logbook for Bycatch.

by individual species
by species groups
as aggregated category/ as "other"
not recorded/reported
Bycatch Logbook in place

Are there bycatch mitigation/elimination measures implemented nationally?

Yes.
No.

Please specify bycatch mitigation in place:

Pilot studies on new bycatch mitigation devices/options.
Applied bycatch mitigation for certain fishing methods (e.g. circular hooks, magnets).

Please list the pilot study(ies) that are currently executed:

Please list what bycatch mitigation for sharks are in place:

Are there any fishing gear restrictions (prohibition of certain fishing gear) implemented nationally?

Yes.
No.

If yes, please list what gear restrictions are in place:

Is there an obligation for the removal of lost/discarded fishing gear removal implemented nationally?

Yes.
No.

If yes, please specify:

Obligation to report lost/discarded fishing gear for fishermen.
Obligation to report and remove lost/discarded fishing gear for fishermen

Are there any Minimum landing size (MLS) for shark species implemented/set nationally?

Yes.
No.

If yes, please list species for which there are MLS nationally and applicable MLS:

Are there any catch limits/quota for shark species implemented/set nationally?

Yes.
No.

If yes, please list species for which quotas are in place:

Are there any fishing closures (certain areas closed to fishing) implemented nationally?

Yes.
No.

Please specify closures in place:

Temporal closures.
Permanent closure (e.g. for nursery, aggregation areas).
Other closures.

For temporal closures, please list closure period and area location:

For permanent closures, please list location of the area and why it is closed:

Please specify what "other" closures are in place:

Are fisheries observers in place?

Yes.
No.

If yes, please specify:

Regular deployment of fisheries observers.
Occasional deployment of fisheries observers.

If fishery observers are deployed regularly, please list how many observers per boat and how often they are observing:

If fishery observers are deployed occasionally, please list how many observers per boat and how often they are observing:

Are cameras installed on board of nationally registered fishing vessels?

Yes.
No.

Please list any other regulatory measures for commercial fisheries relevant to shark conservation and management that are implemented nationally.

Please provide the reference to the applicable national legislation under which commercial fishing is regulated:

3.2 Market regulations

This section focuses on information and regulatory measures implemented for selling and marketing shark products (meat, fins, etc.). Please select as applicable to your country.

Is shark meat that is sold nationally labelled?

Yes.
No.

If shark meat is labelled, please select what information is shown on the label:

Shark species - common (local) name
Shark species - scientific name
Fisheries area
Saltwater/Freshwater origin
Conservation status (e.g. national list or ICUN Redlist classification)
Population trend (e.g. “declining”, “stable”, etc.)
Other.

(multiple options may apply)

If "other", please specify:

If shark meat is labelled, please list respective national legislation:

Are other products containing shark(s) are labelled (e.g. cosmetics, oil, medicine, pet food)?

Yes.
No.

If yes, please specify what information these labels contain.

If other shark products are labelled, please specify what information these labels contain and the respective national legislation:

Are inspections at national fish markets carried out?

Yes.
No.

If market inspections are carried out, please specify how:

Visual inspections.
Genetic sampling of shark products.

(multiple options may apply)

Please specify how regular visual inspections are carried out:

Please specify how regular genetic sampling inspections are carried out:

Are there any promotional campaigns for shark meat or other shark products?

Yes.
No.
Not that I am aware of.

(This refers to governmental/national campaigns promoting the consumption of sharks, skates and/or rays., or use of products deriving from these animals.)

If yes, please specify campaign(s):

Is there a product certification/eco-label that is applied to shark products/meat nationally?

Yes.
No.

Please specify which labels are implemented

Nationally developed fishing certification
Other (e.g. Marine Stewardship Council)

If "other" labels are in place, please specify:

Please list any other measures relevant to the marketing of shark products implemented nationally and respective legislation (if applicable).

3.3 Recreational fisheries

This section focuses on regulatory measures implemented for recreational fishing (of sharks). Please select as applicable to your country.

Are there regulations applicable to recreational fisheries?

Yes.
No.

*If “Yes”, please fill in the following section. Please indicate which regulatory measures are implemented nationally:

If there are no regulations for recreational fishing of sharks, please continue to the next section.

Is there a legal obligation for recreational fishers to report catches?

Yes.
No.

Is there a retention ban implemented nationally?

Yes.
No.

(This means selected species cannot be retained on board of a fishing vessel and must be thrown back into the sea.)

If retention bans are implemented, please list species for which the ban applies:

Is there/are there fishing ban(s) for sharks implemented nationally?

Yes.
No.

If yes , please specify:

Partially.
Fully (all sharks, skates, and rays in national waters).

If a partial fishing ban is implemented, please list species for which the ban applies:

Are there any catch limits/permits for recreational fishing?

Yes.
No.

If yes, please specify:

Bag/catch limits for sharks
Permits for recreational fishing

If bag/catch limits are in place, please specify limit and respective species:

Please list any other regulatory measures for recreational fisheries relevant to shark conservation and management.

Please provide the reference to the applicable national legislation under which recreational fishing is regulated:

3.4 Trade of shark products

This section focuses on measures regulating shark product trade nationally. Please select as applicable to your country.

Does your country export shark products (meat, fins, oil, etc)?

Yes.
No.

If yes, please list the products your country exports:

If shark products are exported, is this export considered “important” for the economy?

Yes.
No.
Cannot say/Do not know.

Does your country import shark products (meat, fins, oil, etc)?

Yes.
No.

If yes, please list the products your country imports:

If shark products are imported, is this import considered “important” for the economy?

Yes.
No.
Cannot say/Do not know.

If shark products are traded, please indicate whether one of the following measures/regulations applies/is implemented nationally:

Are there any Non-detriment findings for nationally occurring/fished shark species?

Yes.
No.
Not applicable.

(in line with the Convention on Trade of Endangered Species- CITES: https://www.cites.org/eng/prog/ndf/index.php)

If NDFs are conducted, please list the species for which there is a NDF:

Are permits for CITES-listed species issued

Yes.
No.
Not applicable.

If permits are issued, please specify:

Export permits
Import permits

Is there a total prohibition of trade of protected species?

Yes.
No.
Not applicable.

Is there a specific taxation for shark products nationally?

Yes.
No.
Not applicable.

If specific taxes are in place, please specify:

Export taxes
Import taxes

If taxation exists, please specify for which products these apply and how the taxes are used:

Please list any other regulatory measures for trade of shark products.

Please provide the reference to the applicable national legislation under which trade of (shark) products is regulated:

4. Tourism

This section focuses on measures regulating (shark) tourism nationally. Please select as applicable to your country.

Is shark tourism conducted/executed in the country?

Yes.
No.

(Shark tourism refers to activities actively promoting shark encounters through e.g. diving, guided snorkeler tours, etc.)

If yes, please indicate whether one of the following measures/regulations apply/ are implemented nationally:

Please select all that apply:

Please select all that apply/are implemented nationally:

A ‘Code of Conduct’ is implemented nationally
There is an Eco- certification for tourism operations implemented nationally.
Permits are issued for shark tourism operations.
A feeding ban (prohibition of feeding sharks or attracting sharks with bait) is implemented.
There is visitor control (permitted max. number of tourists at one time).
Educational programmes are offered for shark tourism operations.

(Voluntary briefing of tourists presenting aspects of species behaviour and ecology.)

If permits are issued, please specify:

Operational permits
Entry permits (to certain marine areas)

If feeding bans are implemented, please specify:

Prohibition of baiting
Prohibition of feeding animals

Please list any other regulatory measures for shark tourism.

Please provide the reference to the applicable national legislation under which tourism is regulated:

5. Additional information

Does your entity cooperate with national or international non-governmental organisations?

Yes.
No.

If yes, please specify which organisations you are working with:

Are there currently any projects on shark conservation, fisheries (e.g. stock assessment), or regulations (e.g. pilot projects on shark catch mitigation) that are carried out by the government?

Yes.
No.

If yes, please list the projects currently being implemented or planned.

Please provide details on the project name, duration, objective, shark species concerned, budget, and partners involved for each project.

Alternatively you can provide a table and upload the file here, please:

Click or drag a file to this area to upload.

What is the (approximate) annual budget for the following sectors? (Please indicate applicable currency. )

Fisheries management:

Marine conservation:

Marine research:

Enforcement (marine):

Are there any capacity restraints to effectively conserve shark populations and manage shark fisheries?

Enforcement capacity restraints
Budget restrains
Gap in expert knowledge
Other

(please select all that apply)

If "other", please specify:

Are there any legal cases (e.g. seizures, fines, court cases) in which sharks have been fished or killed illegally that you can share?

Yes.
No.

If yes, please submit a list with this survey, if possible.

Click or drag files to this area to upload. You can upload up to 2 files.

Please indicate:

By ticking this box, I agree that I can be contacted after submission of this survey for follow-up questions regarding this study.
By ticking this box, I would like to ask the researcher to keep me updated on the outcomes of this study.

Please submit a copy of the most recent report on the implementation of the Regional Action Plan for Cartilaginous Fishes under the Barcelona Convention, if implemented nationally:

Click or drag a file to this area to upload.

(if applicable)

Additional comments and remarks you would like us to consider:

1. Participant information and consent

Participant consent:

Section 2: Shark conservation and management

Section 3: Fisheries, market, and trade regulations

3.1 Commercial fisheries

Regulations and measures implemented nationally for commercial fisheries

3.2 Market regulations

3.3 Recreational fisheries

*If “Yes”, please fill in the following section. Please indicate which regulatory measures are implemented nationally:

3.4 Trade of shark products

If shark products are traded, please indicate whether one of the following measures/regulations applies/is implemented nationally:

4. Tourism

If yes, please indicate whether one of the following measures/regulations apply/ are implemented nationally:

5. Additional information

We greatly appreciate your contribution to our study. Thank you very much.