A. Species
Scientific name: Sphyrna lewini
Common name(s): Scalloped hammerhead shark
Global IUCN Red List Threat Status: Critically Endangered
B. Location of use
Geographic location(s):
- Sri Lanka
- Indian Ocean - eastern
- Indian Ocean - western
Country/Region:
C. Scale of assessment
Scale of assessment: National Level
Name/Details of location: Sri Lanka
D. Timescale of use
Start Year: 2005
End Year: 2015
E. Information about the use
How is the wild species sourced?: Wild species sourced from its natural habitat
Type of use: Extractive
Practice of use: Targeted fishing harvesting/exploiting or collecting wild aquatic resources
Lethal or non-lethal: Lethal
Does this use involve take/extraction of: The whole entire organism
Purpose(s) of end use: Food and feed
Motivation of use: Basic subsistence, Income generation from trade (individual/household/community) and Largescale commercial exploitation for trade
Is this use legal or illegal?: Legal under national law
F. Information about the Users
Which stakeholder(s) does the record primarily focus on?: Local people and National / local private sector
G. Information about the sustainability of use
Is there evidence that the use is having an impact on the target species?: Wild species sourced from its natural habitat
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an ecological perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable
Details of assessment carried out: CITES NDF Report
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: This Hammerhead shark (Sphyrna spp.) NDF for Sri Lanka is “Positive with Conditions” to enable trade to continue while improvements are made to existing fisheries and trade management and monitoring frameworks, and while additional research activities and management measures are adopted.
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an economic perspective been recorded?: No, sustainability not determined
Details of assessment carried out: CITES NDF Report
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: Mostly expressing the need for better information on economic sustainability.
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a social perspective been recorded?: not recorded
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a human health perspective been recorded?: not recorded
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an animal health/welfare perspective been recorded?: No, sustainability not determined
Details of assessment carried out: CITES NDF Report
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: Shark Fisheries Management Regulations, 2015 prohibits shark finning.
Recommendations provided in the record to maintain or enhance the sustainability of the use of the target species
The need for better: Population monitoring Research Fisheries monitoring Monitoring of domestic and international trade. Also: Implementation of and improved compliance with existing fisheries management regulations (national, regional and international), including: • Shark Fisheries Management Regulation, 2015 • National regulations prohibiting gillnets longer than 2.5 km on the high seas. • Fish catch data regulation, 2014 Implementation and regular review of shark plans (e.g. SL-NPOA-Sharks) and participate in the development of a regional shark plan, similar to the RPOA-IUU fishing. Adopt measures to avoid and reduce hammerhead shark bycatch mortality in long line fisheries, e.g. • promote the use of hook and leader designs that minimize hammerhead shark bycatch. For example: circle hooks instead of j-hooks, and monofilament instead of wire-leaders. Conduct an assessment to evaluate potential options for the introduction of export quotas (such as an export cap/limit based on relation to export of total shark fin tonnage in recent years) to better regulate trade and fisheries of shark species. Identify coastal nursery grounds and consider mitigation by reducing fishing pressures on pregnant females and juveniles through avoidance of critical habitat. Develop a fisher awareness program aimed to: • improve identification of juvenile and pregnant sharks and techniques to maximize live release • improve logbook data recording, in particular for the upcoming electronic logbooks. • provide an overview and increase awareness of shark biology, global status, and management measures in place both locally and internationally. Finalise the introduction of HS codes for all shark products to collect improved data on imports and exports. Increase awareness for shark processors, traders, and exporters regarding CITES requirements for the export of products derived from CITES listed shark species (this includes export permits accompanied by the Legal Acquisition Finding and Non-Detriment Findings). Sign the CMS Sharks MoU to access additional support for the management of shark bycatch in Sri Lanka. Submit a report/information document by April 2019 for CITES CoP18, detailing progress achieved in implementing the silky shark and hammerhead NDF and its listed conditions/recommendations.
Record source
Information about the record source: grey_lit
Date of publication/issue/production: 2014-01-01T00:00:00+0000
Source Reference(s):
2nd, revised version. A framework to assist Authorities in making Non-detriment Findings (NDFs) for species listed in CITES Appendix II. Report prepared for the Germany Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Bundesamt fur Naturschutz, BfN).
Date of record entry: 2023-09-19