Sharks are Endangered Species
The Ministry of Fisheries is advising members of the public to refrain from killing sharks as they are classified as endangered species that need protection.
This comes after the recent circulation of a video on social media involving the inhumane treatment of a Bull Shark (Carcharhincus leucas) in Levuka, Ovalau.
Director of Fisheries, Neomai Ravitu, said the shark in the video appeared to have been caught by the low tide when it swam close to the Pacific Fishing Company factory to feed on fish waste.
“It was stranded and helpless, and the way it was treated shows that there is a lack of understanding and appreciation of the importance of this animal to our ocean ecosystem.”
“Fijians need to understand the vital role that sharks play in our marine ecosystem and in maintaining healthy reef systems.”
CITES and related Legislations
Director Ravitu said that several shark species are listed in the Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix 2.
Sharks are also listed under the Endangered and Protected Species Act regulated by the Ministry of Environment.
The protection of sharks is also clearly articulated in the Offshore Fisheries Management Act and the Offshore Fisheries Management Regulations (2014).
Fiji’s Fisheries Act Cap 158 also disallows the setting of gillnets across the rivers and estuaries.
The Ministry of Fisheries is reviewing the draft 2016 National Plan of Action for Sharks (NPOA) which is aimed at developing fisheries regulations and policies that support the implementation of the NPOA to improve shark management.
Mrs. Ravitu said all these regulations are part of Government’s efforts to help protect sharks given the important role that sharks play in the marine food web which is absolutely vital to maintaining healthy oceans and ecosystems.
“This in turn could benefit Fiji’s economy as the legislations could help make Fiji’s fisheries more sustainable,” she said.
She added that Fijians need to understand the importance of sharks and to respect the law or they could face hefty penalties including jail terms if found guilty of killing sharks.
The penalties for those breaching the law range from F$20,000 to F$100,000 or two years imprisonment.
Research on Sharks
The Save our Oceans Foundation, a registered international not-forprofit foundation in Switzerland, have been funding and supporting research, conservation and education projects worldwide, focusing primarily on charismatic threatened wildlife and their habit. Along with other scientists and marine biologists worldwide, they confirm that as predators, sharks play a crucial role in helping to maintain a delicately balanced ecosystem that keeps our oceans healthy.
“Their feeding helps to regulate prey population numbers, but also prey distribution as they select a habitat to avoid being eaten. Large predators like sharks are even effective carbon sinks, so more large fish in our oceans could reduce the carbon dioxide being released into our atmosphere. The ripple effects of an ocean without predators could be far-reaching and devastating for marine life and life on land,” the Foundation said.
The University of the South Pacific conducted a study on ‘Essential waters: Young bull sharks in Fiji’s largest riverine system’ which clearly revealed, that coastal and estuarine systems provide critical shark habitats due to their relatively high productivity and shallow, protected waters.
The study documented the temporal and spatial distribution, age class composition, and environmental parameters of young bull sharks in the Rewa, Sigatoka, and Navua rivers. One hundred and seventy-two young bull sharks were captured in fisheries-independent surveys from January 2016 to April 2018.
This is consistent with the shark breeding season from September to April, which are the summer months when juveniles enter the estuaries for protection.
Scalloped hammerhead sharks use estuaries as a nursery ground. On the other hand, the bull sharks, which are a predatory species, live in coastal seas. The adult female bull sharks aggregate for mating in offshore areas and then enter the larger river mouths and freshwater systems to give birth. They are more capable of moving easily into freshwaters, which brings them into frequent contact with humans compared with other shark species. Shark populations in major rivers have declined due to weather conditions, dredging, and mining activities that have altered the river’s physical nature. This is detrimental to ensuring healthy shark populations, which studies have found to be the cornerstone to vibrant marine life composition. More awareness is needed to conserve and protect sharks.
Recent shark sightings
Mrs. Ravitu said that while we note the increased shark sightings, this does not necessarily mean there is an increase in shark population in our waters as there are other factors that influence their movement - some being environmental whilst others anthropogenic or human-induced.
Furthermore, people have access to smart phones these days, but the fact that they are able to record shark sightings and share these events on social media with ease doesn’t mean that sharks were never there before.
She said Fijians need to keep in mind that the ocean is fluid and that we cannot restrict the movement of sharks as the ocean is their home.
“Noting that these are birthing and mating months for certain shark species; fishers, communities and regular sea goers are asked to take extra precautions for their safety. This is the breeding season and some sharks have the tendency to return to their birthplace to give birth. These include the scalloped hammerhead shark where the Rewa River is a confirmed breeding ground,” she said.
Sightings of bull sharks in coastal areas, close to large freshwater and brackish water systems should be normal as these are their natural habitat.
Precautionary measures
Members of the public are advised to avoid standing waist-deep in the water whilst fishing, especially in areas where sharks are known to breed or where sharks have been recently sighted.
People are also encouraged to avoid swimming or diving during dawn and dusk, as this is when sharks are most active hunting for food. In other times, diving in a group is recommended as more people could help look out for each other’s safety.
Mrs. Ravitu said “I hope we will all work together for the protection of our marine resources as they all have a huge role to play in keeping our oceans and eco-systems healthy for generations to come.”