Whether or not it is clear to you, slowly but ever so surely, the weather is mellowing and there is every indication that this month will indeed exit like a lamb.Even though there has not been a whole lot of effort put in, there has been enough offshore activity for most seasonal anglers to start to get the cobwebs out and to consider that the real fishing may only be a few weeks away.The big story, of course, was Peter Lewis’ 350-pound bluefin tuna that was caught trolling on Argus Bank. Not necessarily indicative of schools of bluefin taking up residence here, it does bear out what has been known for a good long while. Part of the reason for this success must come from the heavier gar in use nowadays and the adjustment of tactics to include things like spreader bars and more specific tuna rigs that were hitherto ignored here.Another notable catch by a commercial troller was a swordfish. This fish was reported to be in the 60-pound bracket and that, too, is the product of a change in technique. Again, there has never been any question as to the existence of that species here — it was more the suitability of gear and tactics that effected a result.While it would be misleading to say that the trolling was good, there are plenty of signs that things are starting to happen. The moon is waxing and many associate the best fishing with a full moon and that is just over a week away. The inference is that the fishing will pick up as the moon gets brighter and April approaches.Catches of wahoo up to about 60 pounds and both blackfin and yellowfin tuna have been recorded this past week and there is every reason to expect both numbers and the pace of the action to pick up. The mere presence of those two tuna species has to suggest that the warmer water apex predators in the form of billfish won’t be too far behind.Bluefin and swordfish may be the talk at the moment but once the effort starts to increase the usually far more abundant and considerably more pleasing wahoo and yellowfin tuna will again become the mainstay of both the commercial and sport fisheries..Although sharks of any sort don’t often rate much of a mention locally — most tournaments exclude them and there is little sporting interest in them despite several species being recognised by the IGFA — this week an international body agreed to place some restrictions that will have a far-reaching effect on at least three shark species.As most will have heard there is a huge Asian market for shark fins. In the years that Taiwanese longliners used to make port calls into Bermuda, many people remarked on all the shark fins that were hung drying from the rigging. Especially since the target species for these boats was albacore tuna. It was quite obvious that the by-catch of sharks was finding uses somewhere other than the tuna cannery.These uses included Chinese medicine; it is believed that since sharks do not appear to suffer from cancer or other ailments, shark extracts should be beneficial for humans. The other, more obvious, application was as an ingredient in “shark fin soup”. An Oriental delicacy, there is usually very little fin in the soup but it is a necessary ingredient and is priced accordingly. The seemingly insatiable demand for this product has led to the severe overfishing of sharks in many parts of the world with just the one market in mind. Although, at first, blush, a reduction in the number of sharks should be a good idea, science strongly suggests that reduced shark populations are very detrimental effects to the marine environment.If you think about it, it must be a real challenge to get any support at all for sharks. They aren’t cuddly like pandas or majestic like tigers. Unlike the feline star of The Life of Pi, in both fact and fiction sharks are much more likely to be the villains than anything else.The fact of the matter is that sharks, for better or for worse (and we would probably be a lot worse off without them!) are arguably the most refined and adapted species in this world. They have been around a lot longer than most other creatures and have almost perfectly blended into their watery environments. The plural is used because they successfully exist in both fresh and salt water with some species normally present in one actually managing to infiltrate the other.So it may come as a surprise to many that an international agreement was hammered out this week and narrowly survived a vote to put into place new controls that may actually benefit shark conservation. Three species are involved but the future may see the agreement expanded.The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species …, better known by its acronym CITES, actually governs exactly that. It does not provide protection against the hunting, catching or taking of any species. The organisation puts controls on the markets and even then only on international ones.By way of example: Bermudians who travel to Hawaii find that orchid bulbs are offered for sale. These can be bought by American tourists, taken home and grown without any legal violation occurring. If, on the other hand, a Bermudian seeks to bring the same orchid back home as a souvenir to Bermuda, then CITES is involved and the short answer to the question is “no” and it will probably be confiscated. That is where the word “international” word takes on its real meaning.This new international agreement will put some new requirements into place that will probably change how the shark product market works. For one, it will probably drive up the price initially and it may well further encourage Chinese and other Asian domestic fleets to increase their shark fishing effort. Unfortunately that is where such protection starts and ends.On a more positive note, there will likely be better estimates of the volume of the market and the sources of the products. In addition, individual countries such as the U.S.A. may invoke additional regulations that relate to the taking of sharks by US vessels or in US-controlled waters.For the record, Bermuda is a party to CITES but it is highly unlikely that there is going to be any shark exports from here. Commercial interests are pretty much limited to the local market and there are times when it is difficult to even satisfy that, at least in terms of certain species. And, in any event, local sports anglers certainly won’t be gearing up specially to chase after oceanic white tips, hammerheads (both occur here) or porbeagles (more northern or cooler waters) for their Tight lines!!