EU Shark Conservation – Recent Progress and Priorities for Action

The European Union (EU) remains a global shark fishing power, but its record on shark conservation is changing. The EU’s notorious not-so-distant past – characterised by severe population depletion, unregulated fishing and exceptionally weak regulations – is now finally being balanced by recent, significant strides toward limiting EU shark fisheries and securing international protections for the most vulnerable shark species. Long-time pioneers in developing markets for sharks, EU Member States are now also taking a leadership role in applying international wildlife treaties to sharks.

This brochure describes next steps for the EU shark conservation that have to be taken to fulfill commitments and to take a leading role in shark conservation internationally.