Motion 118

The Scalloped Hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) is a circumglobally distributed large coastal and semi-oceanic pelagic shark. It displays a complex life history, involving nurseries in coastal waters and oceanic islands, developmental continental shelves and slopes, and oceanic islands and seamounts where adult aggregations occur. Consequently, the species is caught globally in an array of fisheries, from artisanal operations in coastal waters to industrial operations in pelagic waters. The species is retained to supply the demand of fins in Asian markets, although meat is also used to supply domestic and international demand.

The Scalloped Hammerhead was assessed by the IUCN as Endangered in 2009, which prompted its listing under Appendix II of CITES in 2013. In 2014, the species was listed under Appendix II of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), and Appendix I of the CMS Memorandum of Understanding for Migratory Sharks (MoU-Sharks).

Despite these assessments and listings, the species was assessed as Critically Endangered with a declining population trend in 2019. The main threat is the demand for shark fins in Asian markets, supplied by high seas longline and purse seine fisheries, operating in the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of coastal nations and in international waters beyond national jurisdiction.

Anti-shark finning legislation has been passed in many nations, but its implementation has failed to curb global shark mortality, not only due to inadequate enforcement, but because these policies do not address overfishing but rather animal welfare and food security issues. This is a critical issue, as remediation measures (e.g., shark finning bans, retention bans, species-specific bans, best handling and release protocols) have no conservation value for Scalloped Hammerheads due to its particularly high at-vessel and post-release mortality, because of which the best conservation measure is to avoid interactions with the fishery altogether.

Conservation and Management Measures (CMMs) are difficult to implement in developing nations, due to financial and technical resources. CMMs implemented by the relevant Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) regarding sharks, however, continue to focus on remediation measures. Bycatch measures should prioritize avoidance of interactions with fisheries via spatiotemporal management, permanent closures in critical habitats, depth prohibitions, and minimization via gear and set modifications and catch limits, and only then followed by remediation measures.

The transferring of the Scalloped Hammerhead from an Appendix II to an Appendix I listing, would have beneficial effects upon the wild populations of these fish by strictly regulating (banning) the international trade of its products. This action will assist States in the implementation of policies designed to fully protect the species by avoiding interactions with fisheries as a priority, as well as Contracting Parties (CPCs) to relevant RFMOs in the compliance with an international ban on the commercialization of Scalloped Hammerhead products, laying the framework for the series of necessary regional measures to halt the global extinction trend of the species and ensure that the conditions are met for eventual recovery.