10/2002: Indonesian and Australian cooperation leads to new discoveries

MEDIA RELEASE

Indonesian and Australian cooperation leads to new discoveries

A cooperative project between Indonesia and Australia has discovered 15 new species as part of a wider assessment of the status of shark and ray stocks in Indonesian waters. 

The project, which was commissioned by the Australian Government, through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, will help in increasing understanding of shark and ray species in Indonesian waters.  As part of the project Indonesian scientists will also receive training in alternative management options for managing shark and ray fisheries.

The conservation of shark populations is a growing area of international focus, with a United Nations initiative spearheading a global effort.  Work on this project will help to ensure that shark and ray species are managed sustainably, to ensure their long term conservation.

Indonesian fishermen have targeted some species of sharks and rays, operating on a small scale that has not proven to be a major threat to either species.  The ACIAR-funded project is investigating both the characteristics of the fisheries and the socioeconomic characteristics of the fishermen involved.

Species of sharks and rays are prolific in Indonesian waters.  Indonesian and Australian scientists have recorded 128 species of sharks and rays since the project began in 2001.  Of these 15 are new species previously undescribed by science.  All the species have been included in a reference collection that records data on biology and locations where found.  The data is helping in the study of their growth and reproductive rates.

Sharks and rays are slow to grow and mature, producing relatively few young during their lifetime.  This makes them especially vulnerable to overfishing.

To ensure that overfishing is not occurring research has also been conducted into the socioeconomics of the local fishing industries who rely on both species to form the majority of their catch.  This has focussed not only on fishing activities themselves, but also on post-harvest activities and the economic supply chains in coastal fishing villages.

A collapse of shark and ray fisheries could have severe economic and social effects on many of these coastal villages throughout eastern Indonesia.  Fishing provides the main income in many of these communities, and also provides incomes to other communities through economic supply chains.

To ensure the long term viability of fishing-dependent villages strategies for stock evaluation and management are being examined.  Training of Indonesian scientists by their Australian counterparts is also a key part of this process.