ANGLERS have welcomed a Federal Government decision to introduce legislation to ensure continued recreational fishing of mako sharks.

Environment Minister Peter Garrett's backdown on banning fishing of shortfin mako, longfin mako and porbeagle sharks follows a united front of opposition by recreational fishers.

At Hastings on January 6, 350 angry anglers and charter boat operators called for the minister to delay the ban – which was to take effect at the end of this month – amid claims of flaws in the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act ('Anglers' anger on shark fishing ban', The Mail, 13/1/10).

The act requires that species listed internationally were automatically included on Australia's list of migratory species.

Speaking on Monday, Mr Garrett said there was lack of evidence to suggest that Australian populations of these shark species faced the same threats as other parts of the world, such as those in northern waters.

"The Government will ensure that recreational fishers, including charter boat operations, are not unfairly impacted by this international decision, which was primarily driven about northern hemisphere populations of these sharks.

"Because the new listing will impact disproportionately on recreational fishers for no demonstrable conservation benefit, we think it is important that we act separately on this matter."

While the listing of the three shark species will still take effect on January 29, the Government will act as a priority on the resumption of parliament to introduce amendments to the EPBC. It also announced that catch and release fishing of these species was not expected to have a significant impact on populations and therefore unlikely to be subject to enforcement action.

The spokeswoman for angling peak body VRFish, Samantha Snowden-Finch, said Mr Garrett's announcement showed much could be achieved when recreational fishers rallied for a common cause.

Humane Society International, an organisation involved in the preservation of endangered animals and ecosystems, described the move as "gutless".

It called for the Government to list the three shark species and undertake further research on the state of Australian shark populations.

The Australian Marine Conservation Society said it was "deeply disappointed by the backdown".