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Report lists the world’s top 20 shark and ray catchers
Some 600,000 metric tonnes of sharks and rays were caught each year between 2007 and 2017. 


Scientists call for urgent action to combat over-exploitation

A list of the world’s top 20 shark and ray catchers, who collectively account for around 80 per cent of the average global catch, have been revealed in a new report.


Compiled by the wildlife trade monitoring network, TRAFFIC, the report shows that some 600,000 metric tonnes of sharks and rays were caught each year between 2007 and 2017. 


Topping the list of catchers during this period were Indonesia, Spain, India, Mexico and the United States, with a combined total of 333,952 metric tonnes (mt) caught on average each year.  


Shark fin consumption in East Asia is also a key driver of trade. An average of 16,177 mt per year of shark fin products (with an average value of USD294 million per year) were reported as imported worldwide during 2000–2016.

Report co-author Nicola Okes called for urgent action to combat the over-exploitation and lack of accurate catch and trade information on sharks and rays. 


“As key high order predators, the continued wellbeing of these populations is essential to the overall health of our oceans. We need the main catchers to take responsibility and put in place monitoring and management measures to stop further declines of sharks and rays.”


The report follows the successful listing of longfin and shortfin mako sharks in the CITES1 Appendix II at the 18th Conference of the Parties held in Geneva last month. The Proposals were accepted in response to population declines, made worse by over-exploitation and unsustainable trade.


Several species protected under CITES regulations are assessed in the report, including silky shark, mobulid rays, and blue shark. In 2017 alone, more than 103,528 mt of blue shark were reported as caught. 


“We have seen a greater use of trade controls through CITES over the last decade as a response to declines in sharks and rays being overfished for trade,” said Glenn Sant, TRAFFIC’s senior advisor on fisheries, trade and traceability.


“We would also like to see major importers scrutinising the sustainability of the shark and ray products they import using tools such as M-Risk, developed by TRAFFIC. Major importers need to take responsibility for their sustainability footprint as a result of importing products from species at high risk of overexploitation”.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.