Hammerheads get a last minute reprieve

After failing to get earlier consensus on a conservation measure for hammerhead sharks the issue came up again before the full Commission. Concessions made by Japan allowed agreement and a measure that would require all hammerheads to be released in all fisheries (sport and commercial) and prohibits any possession, trade or sale was passed. An exception to these provisions was granted for artisanal fisheries in "developing coastal" nations where such fish are only taken for local consumption and the nations reported catch data to ICCAT. The exception precludes any international trade in the sharks or their fins and the nations receiving this exception were asked to cap catches at current levels.

Similar last minute efforts to develop conservation measures for porbeagle and thresher sharks failed. The proposal to require all sharks be landed with fins attached (to prevent discarding bodies while retaining the valuable fins) also failed.