Resolution C-23-08

Resolution sets out agreement on:

• Continuing long-term sampling to improve data collection. 
• Prohibiting retention of silky sharks on purse seine vessels. Incidental catch to be released alive if possible; if frozen, must be surrendered and donated for domestic consumption.
• On longline vessels (those not licensed to catch sharks), silky shark incidental catch must not exceed 20% by weight of total catch.
•  For multi-species longline fisheries, catch of silky shark of <100cm limited to 20% of total number caught per trip. If exceeded, use of steel leaders^# prohibited for three consecutive months each year.
• Data collection and reporting (including release data).
• Avoidance of pupping areas.
• Resolution not applicable to vessels <12m that do not deliver to motherships.
• Research to focus on: identification of pupping areas; bycatch mitigation techniques, including post-release survival related to soak time & circle hooks;  improvement of safe handling practices; & review of % catch limits

^#requirements re steel leaders are significantly different to that set out in the superseded Resolution C-21-06