Mr. House said legislation would soon be enacted to ban both commercial and recreational catches of the shark species. The Minister said the Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee supported a ban on the take of the white shark for anglers. This followed moves in June to list the white shark as a commercially protected species. Mr. House said shark fishermen would also develop a code of conduct for the commercial fishing sector for handling white sharks. We know they are vulnerable to overfishing as they take about ten years to reach maturity.
Research suggests that both the numbers and average size of the great white have recently declined.
Protection of the species is a precautionary approach and the best step we can take to safeguard its future. Mr. House said the white shark was commercially protected from the beginning of this month and was expected to be enforced recreationally by the end of November. Other areas in which the white shark is protected include California, South Africa, and the Atlantic coast of the United States.