National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks in the Philippines (Philippine NPOA-Sharks).

This National Plan of Action (Philippine NPOA-Sharks) is drafted by the Department of Agriculture Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Philippines. This Action Plan is drafted following the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (IPOA-Sharks) by the 23th session of the UN FAO Committee on Fisheries in 1999 in recognition of the expanding global catch of sharks and the potential negative impacts on sharks populations. Although Philippines is not a major shark fishing nation but as a member of UN FAO, it is committed to produce its own NPOA. Increase of commercial attraction of sharks and demands for shark products in the past 30 years have led to a considerable threat to number of species. The overall objective of the NPOA is the conservation and management of sharks and their long-term sustainable use. This Policy is drafted in 8 Chapters, 1 Bibliography and 6 Appendixes as follow: Introduction (1); Philippines Shark Resources (2); Philippines Shark fisheries (3); Utilization and Trade (4); Legal and Management Instruments (5); Conservation status of Philippine Sharks (6); Data needs, issues and challenges recommendations and priorities for action (7); National Plan of Action - Sharks (8).