The Socioeconomic Importance of Sharks in the U.S. Flag Areas of the Western and Central Pacific

Contents: 1)Summary of Issues and Major Findings; 2)Introduction; 3)Overview of Relevant Fleet Characteristics; 4)Current Practices in Commercial Fisheries and Attitudes Towards Sharks; 5)Existing Markets for Sharks and Shark Fins from Domestic Vessels; 6)Estimates of Landinfs and Landed Value; 7)The Importance of Income from Shark Fin Sales to vessel Crews; 8)The Direct Economic Contribution of Sharks to the Economies of Hawaii,Guam, and American Samoa; 9)Sharks in the Cultural Context; 10)Identification and Discussion of Management Alternatives