Urgent Call to Remove All Endangered Marine Species from South Africa’s Commercial and Recreational Permitted Catch Lists

South Africa’s oceans are home to some of the world’s most extraordinary marine life, but many of these species are teetering on the brink of extinction.

Despite being globally recognised as endangered, some of these species are still legally permitted for capture, handling, and even retention under South Africa’s current fishing regulations.

This petition calls for the immediate removal of all marine species listed as Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List, plus all Vulnerable (VU) sharks, including Sphyrna spp. species, from both recreational and commercial permitted species lists.

Spotlight: Sphyrna zygaena – Smooth Hammerhead
The Smooth Hammerhead, a regular visitor to South Africa's coastline, is currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Scientific research shows they are particularly sensitive to stress, with catch-and-release often leading to delayed mortality. 

A 2014 study published in Conservation Physiology found that hammerheads experience severe spikes in blood lactate levels (similar to humans undergoing intense or exhaustive exercise) after even short periods of struggle on a fishing line. In many cases, this physiological stress is fatal, even after release. The idea that “release equals survival” simply doesn’t apply to hammerheads. Yet, recreational anglers continue to legally catch and mishandle them along South Africa’s shores. Hammerhead sharks are listed as Prohibited Species in the 2017/18 Marine Recreational Activity Information Brochure, yet these protections have not yet been formally gazetted, rendering them unenforceable in practice.

These species are not the fringe few. Here are a few more examples in a long list of threatened species currently permitted for retention, either recreationally or commercially, in South Africa:

Carcharias taurus (Ragged-tooth shark) – Critically Endangered
Galeorhinus galeus (Soupfin shark) – Critically Endangered
Thunnus maccoyii (Southern bluefin tuna) – Critically Endangered
Haploblepharus edwardsii (Puffadder shyshark) – Endangered
Rostroraja alba (Bottlenose skate) – Endangered
Mustelus mustelus (Smooth-hound shark) – Endangered
Petrus rupestris (Red steenbras) – Endangered
Isurus oxyrinchus (Shortfin mako) – Endangered
Sphyrna spp. (hammerhead shark) – (Critically Endangered to Vulnerable)
Notorynchus cepedianus (Broadnose Sevengill shark) – Vulnerable
Carcharhinus brachyurus (Bronze whaler shark) – Vulnerable

At a time when marine ecosystems are under increasing pressure from overfishing, climate change, and habitat degradation, this legal disconnect undermines national and international conservation commitments and threatens ocean health.

What We’re Asking For

We respectfully urge the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment to:

• Remove all CR and EN marine species from both recreational and commercial permitted catch lists.
• Remove all VU shark species from all permitted fishing lists.
• Formally gazette the prohibited status of Sphyrna spp. and ensure enforcement.
• Adopt a science-led, precautionary approach to fisheries management that prioritises conservation over short-term catch yields, in line with the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
• Align South African fisheries regulations with international commitments under Regional Fisheries Management Organisations such as ICCAT and IOTC.
• Establish a zero bag limit and responsible handling policy for these species to remove legal loopholes and grey areas.

Protecting Endangered Marine Life Isn’t Optional. It’s Urgent. Let’s be the generation that chose to protect what’s too rare to catch.

Sign the petition and call on South Africa’s fisheries authorities to update the law before the ocean’s most endangered creatures vanish from our shores forever.