Preliminary Recovery Plan for Scalloped Hammerhead in the Indian Ocean

This was presented as a working paper at the 2022 WPEB (IOTC-2022-WPEB18-18).

This document is a Preliminary Recovery Plan for the Scalloped Hammerhead in the Indian Ocean. It provides summary information on the Scalloped Hammerhead in the Indian Ocean, including biology and ecology, critical habitats, population and stock status, threats, current management measures, and information gaps. The main threat to Scalloped Hammerhead in the Indian Ocean is mortality resulting from fishing, in particular from the gillnet and artisanal fisheries. The Plan considers the conservation needs of the Scalloped Hammherhead in the Indian Ocean and identifies a preliminary set of recommended actions that can be implemented by the IOTC and its CPCs to begin to halt decline and promote recovery of the species. The overarching vision of the Plan is to see the Scalloped Hammerhead population in the Indian Ocean increasing and recovered and thriving in well-managed ecosystems. This Preliminary Recovery Plan describes a range of mechanisms that can be used to halt the decline of the Scalloped Hammerhead in the Indian Ocean and facilitate a recovery, for consideration by the IOTC and its Contracting Parties and Cooperating, Non- Contracting Parties (CPCs). It can form the basis for a full Recovery Plan derived through the normal IOTC processes and consultations with its CPCs. The Scalloped Hammerhead is in dire straits in the Indian Ocean and despite the lack of data, a precautionary approach is needed and management actions are needed without further delay.