Recent data (2007-2013) from the Irish blue shark recreational fishery

Updated results from the blue shark recreational fishery in Ireland are presented spanning the period 2007-2013 for the purposes of the 2015 ICCAT stock assessment. Catch and tagging data from 2007-2013, including CPUE data from the total fishery (i.e. from all reporting skippers), and long-term catch data collected from a subset of reliable angling charter vessel skippers, are presented. CPUE for the total fishery dropped from 1999/2000 onwards, compared to the 1987-1998 period and has remained relatively stable at these reduced levels. Blue shark angling effort has reduced substantially in recent years, arising from decreased numbers of participants in the recreational fishery, as well as lowered catch rates. The tagging programme commenced in 1970 and continues to the present day. Up to 2013, a total of 18,278 blue sharks were tagged, with 895 reported recaptures. This includes 1,431 new tagging events and 83 recaptures since the last report to ICCAT in 2008. Recapture rates were higher than those reported previously. Numbers of blue sharks tagged, however, are much reduced from the numbers tagged in the 1990s.