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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

WWF/TRAFFIC Pacific Shark Heritage Programme

WWF
#SDGAction40087
Description
Description
The development of the Pacific Shark Heritage Programme will assist the significant improvement for marine shark and ray species throughout the Pacific region by improving shark management at both national and regional levels. The Programme will highlight the crucial role sharks and rays play not just in the marine ecosystem, but also in the cultural heritage of the Pacific Island nations. Successful development of the shark management assessment of the Programme will allow replicable benefits on a global scale and put all partners at the cutting edge of shark conservation.Part of the project aims to develop a diverse set of innovative methodologies to assess shark populations and their critical habitats within Pacific Islands' territorial waters. This will be done by working in partnership with both James Cook University, one of the world's leading shark research institutions, as well as organisations such as the University of the South Pacific working at the cutting edge of data acquisition technology and citizen science. These methodologies, once trialled and tested, will provide much needed population data which will be used to develop long-term sustainable management strategies for sharks and rays. The second aspect of the project is to ensure that shark & ray tourism operations develop a set of best management practice guidelines. Sharks and rays are a significant draw for tourists to small island states, generating significant income. Yet there are no guidelines to ensure that these operations ensure benefits to local communities as well as to conservation of a precious resource. WWF aims to develop a set of best management practice guidelines that will allow nations to develop long-term eco-tourism strategies that will benefit local communities.Collaboration with national governments and regional bodies is central to the long-term conservation of sharks and diverse roles sharks play in Pacific Island cultures.Endorsement of the Pacific Shark Heritage Programme by governments willing to work towards sustainable management of sharks & rays will significantly improve the long-term prospects of sharks on a global scale.
Implementation of the Project/Activity

To develop and deliver a suite of workable and replicable shark assessment methodologies, WWF and TRAFFIC will have to work in partnership with a number of organisations to ensure data generated is scientifically robust, replicable in the field and contributes towards sustainable shark management strategies. The main action for the project is to develop the Shark Assessment Tookit, and the activities and outputs are outlined below:Activities:WWF, TRAFFIC & partners will develop a draft set of methodologies to be included within the Shark Assessment Toolkit. These methodologies will draw on current practices developed within the WWF/TRAFFIC network, from cutting edge research techniques and from wider data acquisition, and will include assessments on shark and ray populations and critical habitats.Trialling of methodologies within Pacific Island Countries & Territories will continue throughout the life of the projectThe development of the shark & ray tourism best practice guidelines will include partnerships with local dive operators as well as tourism officials & ministries:Activities:Completion of case studies outlining current shark/ray encountersProduction of report to steering group & technical committeeDevelopment of best practice guidelines

Capacity

An MoU will be developed between WWF/TRAFFIC and regional research organisations which will enable sharing of expertise throughout the Pacific region.WWF will liaise with relevant government departments to ensure any lack of capacity issues will be addressed.

Governed

WWF and TRAFFIC will lead the coordination and development of the programme, leading a technical advisory panel to develop shark and ray population and habitat assessments methodologies. These methodologies will assist Small Islands & Developing States meet requirements to develop a National Plan of Action for sharks, as recommended by the Food & Agriculture Organisation.Quarterly meetings of the steering committee will be held during the lifetime of the partnership, with ongoing discussions with governments to develop National Plans of Action.Research efforts will be conducted within academic institutions within the region, with all work coordinated by WWF.

Partners
WWF; TRAFFIC; James Cook University; University of the South Pacific; SPREP

Goal 14

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

Goal 14

14.1

By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

14.1.1

(a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

14.2

By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

14.2.1

Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas

14.3

Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

14.3.1
Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

14.4

By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

14.4.1
Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

14.5

By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

14.5.1
Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

14.6

By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

14.6.1

Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

14.7

By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

14.7.1

Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries

14.a

Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

14.a.1
Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology

14.b

Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

14.b.1

Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

14.c

Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

14.c.1

Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources

Development of a Shark Assessment Toolkit
Development of shark & ray best practice guidelines
Staff / Technical expertise
WWF, TRAFFIC & regional academic organisations will provide personnel & expertise
No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.
WWF/TRAFFIC Pacific Shark Heritage Programme
False
Action Network
Small Island Developing States
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Timeline
30 June 2017 (date of completion)
Entity
WWF
SDGs
14
Region
  1. Asia and Pacific
Countries
Fiji
Fiji
Contact Information

Ian Campbell, WWF Pacific Shark Heritage Programme Manager

icampbell@wwf.panda.org