11/27/2010 - International delegates Saturday adopted new
protections for seven species of shark in the Atlantic Ocean but
rejected restrictions for bluefin tuna and swordfish, leaving
the future of some of the world's most imperiled marine
predators uncertain. Matt Rand, who directs global shark
conservation for the Washington-based Pew Environment Group,
said in a phone interview from Paris the decisions show that
policymakers are responding to the criticism they received this
spring after the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora failed to adopt a single measure
restricting the global trade of species such as oceanic whitetip
and various types of hammerhead. Rand said the votes demonstrate
"fisheries managers around the world are paying attention to
shark issues," although he added that it still means only a tiny
fraction of the sharks that swim in the Atlantic now are
protected from fishing vessels. "It's a good step forward but
far short of what is needed to save