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Conservationists have condemned huge catches of porbeagle shark at Newlyn,
describing the practice as "disastrous".
They have spoken out after West Cornwall fisherman Martin Ellis landed
64 porbeagle sharks in a single trip. He returned to the same spot on
Monday to catch another 50, and has since made a robust defence of his
shark fishing practice which he intends to continue.
Alison Hood, of the Shark Trust, who has condemned the practice of fishing
in shark feeding areas said: "Targeted shark fishing is very, very
short-sighted. It means we could lose one of the most wonderful types
of wildlife in our waters and it messes up the balance of the ecosystem."
She added: "From our perspective, this is disastrous. Shark species
only increase their population by around three per cent a year because
their only real predator is man."
The porbeagle, a stout, spindle-shaped shark, is "near threatened"
but not protected by fishing quotas.
Mr Ellis, who landed his first haul last week, shot to fame in JED Productions'
video Troubled Waters.
Jed Trewin, of JED Productions, who filmed the sharks being off-loaded
from Martin's boat, Prevail, said: "Martin was elated. He told me
he was 'down to the gunwales with sharks' as soon as his mobile phone
could contact the shore."
The catch was well received by Newlyn export fish merchants with sale
prices ranging from £1.60/kg to £2.10/kg.
Newlyn auctioneer and fish merchant Robin Turner said: "It's not
unusual to see good landings of porbeagle shark at this time of the year.
Those fish can reach 500lb.
"At present the sea water is simply full of feed fish, small mid-water
species like sprats, sand eels and others, attracting bigger fish that
in turn attract shark.
"It has been a prolific year in some areas and the abundance of
porbeagle shark has been notable this year. We have seen a lot landed
to the fish market from mono netters."
Martin Ellis said he and another crew member used mackerel bait on hooks
along a six-mile long fishing line to make the catches. "I have been
trying to catch shark all summer but this was the first time I got to
where they were feeding," he said.
He said the reaction of the Shark Trust was "to be expected",
but he would continue to fish.
"I am very aware of the implications if you take out one species
of fish in that the balance of nature could be affected. I'm in no doubt
that in the case of this particular shark, more have been landed at Newlyn
in the past three or four years than ever before, from fishermen not targeting
them.
"This shows that there are more around and not just that there are
more nets after them. A lot of Newlyn fishermen have congratulated me
on my catches and agree with me that the Shark Trust really has no evidence
to back up the claims it is making."
Article copyright THE CORNISHMAN
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