Sharks are nature's misunderstood monsters

By Gayatri R. Lilley

JAKARTA (JP): Sharks have always been known as the fiercest creatures in the sea. The idea of being eaten by a shark horrifies everyone, even people who have little or no contact with the sea. The film Jaws fueled the notion in our minds that all sharks are dangerous for swimmers, snorkelers and fishermen. And as one of the sea's main predators this creature has had nothing to fear for hundreds of millions of years.

However, in recent times, humans have become the shark's greatest enemy. Shark's fin soup was regarded by the Chinese as a delicacy 2000 years ago and was served only on very special occasions to privileged people. Even today, the fin is considered to be the most valuable part of the shark. This animal belongs to a group of fish whose skeletons are not bony but made of cartilage.

Sharks are caught in huge quantities throughout Indonesia. The FAO reported that the total catch of sharks and rays in Indonesia was about 92,990 metric tons in 1994, compared to 79,800 metric tons in 1991. However, due to difficulties in obtaining accurate and complete data, it is thought that the actual weight and number of sharks caught may be far greater than these official statistics indicate.

Shark fishing is very wasteful. After removing the fins, local fishermen in eastern Indonesia throw the rest of the shark's body away. One reason is a lack of refrigeration facilities on boats.

In many parts of Indonesia, shark fishing belongs to the so- called "low scale" fisheries. These fishermen spend weeks or months at sea but do not actually make much money. It is the middleman, who plays a major role in setting up trade routes, that can receive Rp 20 million (about US$7,700) net per month by selling fins and other shark products.

A recent document published by TRAFFIC showed that the total estimated worldwide catch of sharks was between 30 to 70 million per year.

Permanent fishing nets in northern Sulawesi trapped more than 15 whale sharks, primarily for their meat. The meat was frozen and exported mostly to Taiwan. Whale sharks can grow up to 12 meters in length and are the biggest fish in the world. This harmless shark species is a plankton feeder.

Shark meat has a strong ammonia odor and needs special treatment to be palatable. The meat ball factories in West Java require a minimum of one ton of shark meat per day. At Pelabuhan Ratu, West Java, a boat unloaded 23 sharks ranging from 20kg to 200 kg after a 20-day fishing trip.

"This is a small catch. I only paid Rp 5 million for the lot. Usually I spend Rp 10 million to buy the catch," said a middleman who trades in dried shark fin.

From a recent study on the shark industry, the price for top quality dried fins varied between Rp 100,000 per kg and more than Rp 1 million per kg. The quality depends on the size and also on the species. A bowl of shark fin soup in a prestigious restaurant can cost up to Rp 50,000.

In the last decade, demand has risen for other parts of the sharks too. The cartilage is believed to cure cancer. The deep sea sharks and dogfish have been increasingly hunted for their liver oil to extract squalene, which contain high doses of vitamin A and E. Shark skins are tanned and used to make shark- leather shoes.

Most sharks eat fish and the bigger species can also eat turtles, dolphins and whales. Some of them are scavengers, eating dead and wounded fish. Only a small number of shark species, such as the whale shark and basking shark, do not eat fish. Sharks have a very impressive structure of teeth which enhances their monster image. Sharks are sometimes opportunistic when it comes to eating their prey and they swallow everything when hungry. It was reported that diving tanks were found in the stomach contents of a white oceanic shark.

If the majority of sharks are fish eaters, why should humans can be afraid of them? Shark attacks on man are still a mystery, whether for feeding reasons or to protect their territory. And shark attacks are virtually unheard of in Indonesia.

A shark's sense of smell and hearing is very sensitive and they respond to vibrations. Swimmers may be mistaken by sharks as a wounded fish, which can be detected hundreds of meters away. In Indonesia there are very few or perhaps no reports of sharks attacks on fishermen. However, fishermen tell stories of landing sharks with human body parts among the stomach contents.

Sharks are predators and scavengers, so they form an important part of the food chain. Their slow maturity growth and low fertility rates, however, may affect the survival of these fish if their level of exploitation remains the same. Many species do not reach maturity until they are 10 years to 12 years old. The recovery of many shark populations may now be impossible due to the exploitation rate of these species around the world.

There are more than 400 shark species in the world and about 350 species can be found in Indonesian waters. Like many other marine species, sharks are highly migratory and this complicates their management. And there is not enough information to easily implement management decisions. Although, from records of catches, it is clear that there has been a decrease in their numbers.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has recommended a plan of action which strengthens national, regional and international capacity to manage marine fisheries. Allocating sufficient funds to develop the scientific and technical capabilities necessary to adequately manage the marine fisheries is a priority.

Finally everybody should remember that all the fish species that we eat today need to be given some time and space to reproduce. Sharks have ruled the oceans for 400 million years and they have to survive, just like us.

The author is Marine Conservation Coordinator of WWF-Indonesia Program.