Objective:
- to collect landing and biological data on sharks and rays by species
- to collect information on utilization of by-catch sharks and rays
- to sustain utilization of sharks and rays in the Southeast Asian region
In the last few decades the increase in shark landing to meet the demand for fins and other downstream products of sharks and rays have caused a decrease in several shark and ray resources worldwide. In order to ensure the survival and sustainable utilization of these resources, many governments in the Southeast Asian Region, have taken several important steps to mitigate the decreasing of the resources. SEAFDEC has undertaken the important step of formulating the Regional Plan of Action (RPOA-Sharks) for the conservation and management of sharks and rays in the region. RPOA-Sharks emphasizes the needs to manage and exploit the shark resources at sustainable level and at the same time safeguarding the livelihood of the fishers in the region. Although sharks and rays are not the targeted fishes for the most fisheries in the region, any decision made on the regulating the international trade by listing several common species in Appendix II CITES will affect the livelihood of traditional fishers and traders. Therefore, governments need to collect landing and biological data on these species and to prepare management plans when needed. Identification of elasmobranchs (sharks & rays) species is fundamental of data collection and law enforcement related to CITES. Expertise on identification and biological data collection on sharks and rays in the region needs to be strengthened. In addition, information on utilization of by-catch sharks and rays will be collected and compiled in order to enhance understanding on the importance of sharks and rays in the Southeast Asian region and necessity of fisheries management measures.
Project Leader : Wahidah binti Mohd Arshaad (wahidah[at]seafdec.org.my)
Hamizah Nadia binti Alias @ Yusof(hamizah[at]seafdec.org.my)