Bonn, 9 November 2016 – Some of the world’s leading experts in elasmobranchs and fisheries met for a two-day workshop from 31 October to 1 November in Bristol, UK, to identify priority management measures for the conservation of sharks and rays.

The Conservation Working Group (CWG), which was established at the 2^nd Meeting of the Signatories to the Sharks MOU, has been given the task of providing technical guidance to the Advisory Committee and Signatories.

In particular, the group was assigned the task of identifying gaps in research, conservation and management of shark and ray populations. These results will ultimately feed into a strategy for cooperation with Regional Fisheries Bodies and other relevant organizations interacting with sharks and rays listed in Annex 1 of the Sharks MOU.

The Advisory Committee of the MOU was able to encourage 12 world renowned scientists to volunteer in this process, amongst whom are many members of the IUCN Shark Specialist Group.

The group, supported by observers, started its work last week with an intensive two-day workshop (CWG1). Major items on the agenda included the identification of management gaps and bycatch mitigation measures for sharks and rays implemented by Regional Fisheries Bodies.  

The group has lined up some thorough intersessional work leading up to the second workshop (CWG2) and the next Meeting of the Advisory Committee (AC2), both planned for 2017.

Meeting documents as well as meeting outcomes can be obtained from:

http://www.cms.int/sharks/en/CWG1#documents