A recent study conducted by Dr. Candra Wirawan Arief, Dr. Kiki Haetami and Prof. Titin Herawati has revealed the biological characteristics and conservation status of sharks captured at the Blanakan Fish Auction Site in Subang Regency, Indonesia. The Blanakan waters, part of the Java Sea (WPP 712), are dominated by small-scale fisheries where sharks continue to contribute economically as bycatch species.
Between April and May 2024, the researchers collected data from 302 shark specimens representing six species. The most frequently caught species was Rhizoprionodon oligolinx (201 individuals), followed by Chiloscyllium plagiosum (41), Chiloscyllium punctatum (33), Atelomycterus marmoratus (15), Hemigaleus microstoma (9), and Sphyrna lewini (3). Growth pattern analysis revealed that C. plagiosum exhibited positive allometric growth, while R. oligolinx and C. punctatum showed negative allometry. The overall sex ratio was 46% male to 54% female, with a predominance of females, suggesting balanced population dynamics.
Conservation assessments using the IUCN Red List revealed that four species—R. oligolinx, C. plagiosum, C. punctatum, and A. marmoratus—are categorized as Near Threatened (NT). H. microstoma is listed as Vulnerable (VU), while S. lewini, the scalloped hammerhead shark, is classified as Endangered (EN), highlighting its critical status and risk of extinction in the wild.
These findings underscore the urgent need for sustainable fisheries management and shark conservation strategies. The study contributes directly to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14: Life Below Water, by providing essential data for protecting marine biodiversity, and SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, by highlighting the importance of regulating fishing practices to reduce bycatch impacts. Moreover, the research also supports SDG 15: Life on Land, as marine biodiversity protection contributes to broader ecological balance and resilience.
For more details, please refer to the full research publication https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105008729875
Inventor: Dr. Candra Wirawan Arief, Dr. Kiki Haetami and Prof. Titin Herawati
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