February 23, 2023
JAKARTA (23 February 2023) – Based on the 2020 assessment, all species of walking sharks in the world have entered the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in the context of their scarcity and vulnerability to extinction. In response to this assessment, on 30 January 2023, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) stipulated the Ministerial Decree No. 30 of 2023 on the Full Protection of Walking Sharks (Hemiscyllium spp.). This full protection status applies to all stages of their life cycle, including their body parts and derivative products.
The Director General of Marine Space Management, KKP, Victor Gustaaf Manoppo, stated in a press release published by KKP dated 22 February 2023 that walking sharks are one of 20 types of fishes prioritized by KKP Conservation for the period of 2020–2024.
“Population decline and threats of vulnerability and scarcity of the walking sharks are considerations for the need to make policies for managing these fish resources,” explained Manoppo.
Currently, six of nine genuses of walking sharks in the world are distributed in Indonesia, specifically in Halmahera, Raja Ampat, Teluk Cendrawasih, Fakfak, Kaimana, Jayapura and Aru. Out of the six species, two are in the Near Threatened category, three in the Vulnerable category and one in the Least Concern category.
Dr. Mark Erdmann, Vice President of Conservation International Asia-Pacific, who is also one of the assessors in the IUCN assessment on walking sharks in 2020, said that walking sharks have a highly limited dispersal potential and they do not swim across the deep ocean. This causes them to have a limited size dispersion range.
"Walking sharks experience a quite different situation compared to other shark species. Although walking sharks have a relatively small body size of approximately one meter, fast reproduction and population growth rates and relatively low fisheries exploitation pressure, the range size of their habitat and distribution is limited. As a result, their population size is small and they are vulnerable to extinction because they cannot ‘escape’ if there is habitat degradation and climate change," Erdmann explained.
Meanwhile, Dr. Fahmi, the Middle Researcher of the Research Centre for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), who is also the Regional Vice-Chair of Asia from IUCN Shark Specialist Group, explained that even after getting full protection status, there is still some important notes to ensure the protection effort of walking sharks. Among which is the need to perform a further study related to the dispersion map.
“This dispersion map study is important to find the clear limits of dispersion of every type of walking shark so the areas that need to be monitored for the protection of walking sharks and their habitat can be mapped. BRIN will support if their involvement is needed for this study process,” said Fahmi.
Konservasi Indonesia, as a government partner, is also involved with the conservation area managers in Bird’s Head Seascape (Bentang Laut Kepala Burung), especially in the conservation of these animals. With a scientific approach, Konservasi Indonesia supports population monitoring and habitat mapping. Together with partners, it performs educational efforts for the communities. Konservasi Indonesia is also actively involved in formulating academic papers related to the conservation of endangered animals, among which are the walking sharks.
“Konservasi Indonesia will support the implementation of this regulation up to the site level. We will keep on collaborating with KKP and other partners to continue the scientific works and strengthening the communities in Raja Ampat and Kaimana-Fakfak. For example, to develop ecotourism to protected marine life such as the walking shark to support community livelihood,” said Meizani Irmadhiany, Senior Vice President & Executive Chair, Konservasi Indonesia
Photos of walking sharks (Hemiscyllium spp.) which only exist in Raja Ampat marine areas, are available in the gallery here.
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About Konservasi Indonesia: Konservasi Indonesia is a nation foundation that aims to support the sustainable development and protection of critical ecosystems in Indonesia. We believe in the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships across sectors and jurisdictions. Working in partnership with the government and others, we design and deliver innovative nature-based solutions to climate change, using a sustainable landscapes-seascapes approach to create lasting impacts for people and nature. For further information, visit: www.konservasi-id.org
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About Conservation International: Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, for biodiversity and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples and local communities to help people and nature thrive together. Go to Conservation.org for more, and follow our work on Conservation News, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.