WASHINGTON. Apr 3: The US government put tight restrictions Wediftsday on commercial and recreational shark fishing, saying that overfishing is putting the survival of some species into jeopardy, reports

"Atlantic shark populations are at a precarious state and fishing pressure needs to be reduced." said Rebecca Lent, a senior official of the National Marine Fisheries Service, which Imposed the new fishing quotas.

The restrictions go into effect immediately in waters stretching from the North Atlantic to the Gulf of Mexico. Most shark are found In southern waters from the Carolinas to Louisiana.

The agency, in a move that had been expected among fishermen and environmentalists, directed that commercial fishermen cut in half their annual

catch of large coastal shark to no more than 1.275 metric tons a year.

It also placed tighter limits on how many shark recreational fishermen can catch, imposed new limits on fishing for small coastal sharks and banned all fishing for five species of shark considered particularly vulnerable, including the white shark made famous in movies.

The move was applauded by conservation groups, although environmentalists said a long-range shark management plan will be needed if the fish — in great demand by both commercial and recreational fishermen — are to be protected.

"Unfortunately the serious depletion of these magnificent but vulnerable fish will take decades to repair." said Sonja Fordham, a shark specialist at the private Centre for Marine Conservation. She said the new restrictions, which go into ef-

feet immediately, are long overdue.

All variety of sharks — there are some 400 species — have been a hot commodity for both commercial and recreational fishermen since the 1980s with millions of pounds hauled in annually for restaurants as well as trophy cases.

Their carcasses are prized not only for their meat, but also fins, teeth and various parts that are used as a lubricant or in cosmetics and vitamins.

The large coastal sharks have been such a popular target of commercial fishermen that some species have declined by as much as 80 per cent", according to conservationists, although a good count of the shark population has been hard to come by.

The agency also said It would convene a panel of scientists, fishermen and environmentalists to develop a long-term shark management plan.