Australia Will File For CITES Ban On Great White Shark Trade

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CANBERRA, Australia, February 17, 2004 (ENS) - One of the ocean's most feared predators, the great white shark, is in danger of extinction. Recognizing the threats facing the shark, the Australian government has decided to nominate the species for listing under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) at the next meeting of member countries in October.

Environment Minister Dr. David Kemp said Friday that scientific evidence suggests the great white shark is rare, and the global population of this species has declined by at least 20 percent over the last three generations, and even more in some areas.

The shark made famous by the film "Jaws" is vulnerable to fishing vessels hunting it for fins and teeth, and also vulnerable to being caught in nets and lines set for other species. "Products derived from the great white shark include trophy items such as jaws and teeth, and fins for foods like shark fin soup," said Kemp. "Increasing demand for these products has increased their value. Recent reports have identified sums of up to $50,000 paid for jaws from South Africa and $600 for individual teeth."

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"Great white sharks mature very slowly and females give birth to a small number of young only every two to three years, so that the international trade in shark products can have a major impact on population numbers," Kemp said."

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http://forests.org/articles/reader.asp?linkid=29474