Australia has launched a new shark plan to better conserve and manage the world's shark stocks. Launching the National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, on Wednesday, Senator Ian Macdonald, the Australian Fisheries and Conservation Minister said the plan was co-developed by the states, the Northern Territory, industry, indigenous groups, scientists, conservation organisations and recreational fishers. The key actions in the plan would include review of management practices in targeted shark fisheries, improvement of data collection, risk assessment of the shark species and community education to raise awareness. Over fishing in several areas of the world's oceans has quickly depleted the population of some shark species, with many slow to recover," Senator Macdonald said. Two years

before Australia had banned shark finning, that is removing a shark's fin and then leaving the fish to drown in the water, in the commonwealth waters from 3 to 200 nautical miles. The minister hoped that the new plan would encourage countries with neighbouring fisheries to work with Australia and ensure that shark species are managed sustainably and responsibly.