Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

UK Basking Shark Proposal

7. Additional Remarks

The vulnerability of the basking shark to directed fisheries as a result of its biology and ecology is already recognised by its 1996 IUCN Red List assessment of 'Vulnerable'. Additionally, several Parties to CITES have considered it necessary to introduce legislative measures to protect the species in their territorial waters. The following paragraphs assess the basking shark in terms of the CITES biological criteria.

7.1. Assessment of the basking shark under the CITES biological criteria

This proposal for the listing of the basking shark on Appendix II of CITES is based on the following assessment of the species' biological status, using CITES Appendix II listing Criterion Bi (see Box 1).

  1. The species has been subjected to unsustainable fisheries in several parts of the world, including the Northeast Atlantic, Northeast Pacific, and Northwest Pacific (see summary in Annex 1). All these fisheries appear to have exceeded sustainable levels and most caused population collapse in 10-20 years.
  2. At least some of the products of some of these fisheries have entered international trade.
  3. In recent years European basking shark fisheries have largely been supported economically by the high value of shark fin in international trade.

Criterion A is also met by this assessment, using Appendix I criteria C i & ii.

Box 1. CITES listing criteria

Article II Fundamental Principles

2. Appendix II shall include:

  1. all species which although not necessarily now threatened with extinction may become so unless trade in specimens of such species is subject to strict regulation in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival;

Criteria for the Inclusion of Species in Appendix II

A species should be included in Appendix II when either of the following criteria is met.

A. It is known, inferred or projected that unless trade in the species is subject to strict regulation, it will meet at least one of the criteria listed in Annex 1 in the near future.

B. It is known, inferred or projected that the harvesting of specimens from the wild for international trade has, or may have, a detrimental impact on the species by [either]:

  1. exceeding, over an extended period, the level that can be continued in perpetuity;
  2. [not relevant].

Biological Criteria for Appendix I

A species is considered to be threatened with extinction if it meets, or is likely to meet, [at least one of] the following criteria.

C. A decline in the number of individuals in the wild, which has been either:

i) observed as ongoing or as having occurred in the past (but with a potential to resume) ; or

ii) inferred or projected on the basis of any one of the following:

  • levels or patterns of exploitation
  • [others are not relevant].

Precautionary Measures

A. When considering proposals to amend the appendices, the Parties shall, in the case of uncertainty, either as regards the status of a species or as regards the impact of trade on the conservation of a species, act in the best interest of the conservation of the species.

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Published 9 July 1999
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