National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks

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The United States is developing a National Plan of Action (NPOA) pursuant to the endorsement of the International Plan of Action (IPOA) for the Conservation and Management of Sharks by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Committee on Fisheries (COFI) Ministerial Meeting in March 1999. Noting the increased concern about the expanding catches of sharks and their potential negative impacts on shark populations, this IPOA calls on COFI member states to voluntarily develop national plans to ensure the conservation and management of sharks for their long-term sustainable use. The United States has committed to developing this national plan, and reporting on its implementation to COFI, no later than the 25 th COFI session in February 2001. This document provides a time frame for the completion of this project and an outline of the contents of this NPOA. The public is invited to provide written comments and suggestions for items to be incorporated and addressed within the NPOA. Specifically the public is encouraged to provide NMFS with comments on the level of interactions between sharks and U.S. fisherman in the fisheries listed in the outline or whether the managem