Sharks are nature's misunderstood monsters<\/p>\n
By Gayatri R. Lilley<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Sharks have always been known as the fiercest
\ncreatures in the sea. The idea of being eaten by a shark
\nhorrifies everyone, even people who have little or no contact
\nwith the sea. The film Jaws fueled the notion in our minds that
\nall sharks are dangerous for swimmers, snorkelers and fishermen.
\nAnd as one of the sea's main predators this creature has had
\nnothing to fear for hundreds of millions of years.<\/p>\n
However, in recent times, humans have become the shark's
\ngreatest enemy. Shark's fin soup was regarded by the Chinese as a
\ndelicacy 2000 years ago and was served only on very special
\noccasions to privileged people. Even today, the fin is
\nconsidered to be the most valuable part of the shark. This animal
\nbelongs to a group of fish whose skeletons are not bony but made
\nof cartilage.<\/p>\n
Sharks are caught in huge quantities throughout Indonesia. The
\nFAO reported that the total catch of sharks and rays in Indonesia
\nwas about 92,990 metric tons in 1994, compared to 79,800 metric
\ntons in 1991. However, due to difficulties in obtaining accurate
\nand complete data, it is thought that the actual weight and
\nnumber of sharks caught may be far greater than these official
\nstatistics indicate.<\/p>\n
Shark fishing is very wasteful. After removing the fins, local
\nfishermen in eastern Indonesia throw the rest of the shark's body
\naway. One reason is a lack of refrigeration facilities on boats.<\/p>\n
In many parts of Indonesia, shark fishing belongs to the so-
\ncalled \"low scale\" fisheries. These fishermen spend weeks or
\nmonths at sea but do not actually make much money. It is the
\nmiddleman, who plays a major role in setting up trade routes,
\nthat can receive Rp 20 million (about US$7,700) net per month by
\nselling fins and other shark products.<\/p>\n
A recent document published by TRAFFIC showed that the total
\nestimated worldwide catch of sharks was between 30 to 70 million
\nper year.<\/p>\n
Permanent fishing nets in northern Sulawesi trapped more than
\n15 whale sharks, primarily for their meat. The meat was frozen
\nand exported mostly to Taiwan. Whale sharks can grow up to 12
\nmeters in length and are the biggest fish in the world. This
\nharmless shark species is a plankton feeder.<\/p>\n
Shark meat has a strong ammonia odor and needs special
\ntreatment to be palatable. The meat ball factories in West Java
\nrequire a minimum of one ton of shark meat per day. At Pelabuhan
\nRatu, West Java, a boat unloaded 23 sharks ranging from 20kg to
\n200 kg after a 20-day fishing trip.<\/p>\n
\"This is a small catch. I only paid Rp 5 million for the lot.
\nUsually I spend Rp 10 million to buy the catch,\" said a middleman
\nwho trades in dried shark fin.<\/p>\n
From a recent study on the shark industry, the price for top
\nquality dried fins varied between Rp 100,000 per kg and more than
\nRp 1 million per kg. The quality depends on the size and also on
\nthe species. A bowl of shark fin soup in a prestigious restaurant
\ncan cost up to Rp 50,000.<\/p>\n
In the last decade, demand has risen for other parts of the
\nsharks too. The cartilage is believed to cure cancer. The deep
\nsea sharks and dogfish have been increasingly hunted for their
\nliver oil to extract squalene, which contain high doses of
\nvitamin A and E. Shark skins are tanned and used to make shark-
\nleather shoes.<\/p>\n
Most sharks eat fish and the bigger species can also eat
\nturtles, dolphins and whales. Some of them are scavengers, eating
\ndead and wounded fish. Only a small number of shark species, such
\nas the whale shark and basking shark, do not eat fish. Sharks
\nhave a very impressive structure of teeth which enhances their
\nmonster image. Sharks are sometimes opportunistic when it comes
\nto eating their prey and they swallow everything when hungry. It
\nwas reported that diving tanks were found in the stomach contents
\nof a white oceanic shark.<\/p>\n
If the majority of sharks are fish eaters, why should humans
\ncan be afraid of them? Shark attacks on man are still a mystery,
\nwhether for feeding reasons or to protect their territory. And
\nshark attacks are virtually unheard of in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A shark's sense of smell and hearing is very sensitive and
\nthey respond to vibrations. Swimmers may be mistaken by sharks as
\na wounded fish, which can be detected hundreds of meters away. In
\nIndonesia there are very few or perhaps no reports of sharks
\nattacks on fishermen. However, fishermen tell stories of landing
\nsharks with human body parts among the stomach contents.<\/p>\n
Sharks are predators and scavengers, so they form an important
\npart of the food chain. Their slow maturity growth and low
\nfertility rates, however, may affect the survival of these fish
\nif their level of exploitation remains the same. Many species do
\nnot reach maturity until they are 10 years to 12 years old. The
\nrecovery of many shark populations may now be impossible due to
\nthe exploitation rate of these species around the world.<\/p>\n
There are more than 400 shark species in the world and about
\n350 species can be found in Indonesian waters. Like many other
\nmarine species, sharks are highly migratory and this complicates
\ntheir management. And there is not enough information to easily
\nimplement management decisions. Although, from records of
\ncatches, it is clear that there has been a decrease in their
\nnumbers.<\/p>\n
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has recommended a plan of action
\nwhich strengthens national, regional and international capacity
\nto manage marine fisheries. Allocating sufficient funds to
\ndevelop the scientific and technical capabilities necessary to
\nadequately manage the marine fisheries is a priority.<\/p>\n
Finally everybody should remember that all the fish species
\nthat we eat today need to be given some time and space to
\nreproduce. Sharks have ruled the oceans for 400 million years and
\nthey have to survive, just like us.<\/p>\n
The author is Marine Conservation Coordinator of WWF-Indonesia
\nProgram.<\/p>",
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