JAKARTA: The Raja Ampat epaulette shark, locally known as the “walking shark”, is facing growing threats from tourism development and the impacts of climate change, prompting a push for concrete measures to protect the species’ habitat and ensure its survival.
The shallow coastal waters of the Raja Ampat archipelago in Southwest Papua are home to the population of the shark (Hemiscyllium freycineti), one of 10 known “walking shark” species discovered worldwide, six of which are mainly found in eastern Indonesian waters.
While it is able to swim, the small fish that has a recognisable spotted pattern on its body is known for moves using its pectoral and pelvic fins to “walk” across shallow reefs, a behaviour earning it the moniker “walking shark”.
A recently published study has found more biological and spatial ecological information about the shark, which has a population density of up to 2,462 individuals per square kilometre, the highest recorded globally for the genus. The study, published in Frontiers in Fish Science academic journal on June 17, suggested coral reefs are mainly used by sharks as nursery habitats, or places where the juveniles are produced.
During an observation between February 2024 and April 2025, researchers for the study observed 69 per cent of immature sharks between coral reefs. Meanwhile, adults of the nocturnal fish were observed foraging among seagrass and mangrove roots.
Unlike many other marine animals, the Raja Ampat epaulette shark rarely travels far, with individuals tending to remain in the same area throughout their lives. The researchers found the maximum recorded movement of the shark was around 475 metres, with none observed moving between islands.
The lack of inter-site movement may leave the species more vulnerable to the smallest disturbances to their habitat, as the shark is unable to relocate when its home environmental conditions deteriorate, said Edy Setyawan of the Elasmobranch Institute Indonesia, the study’s lead author.
He was most concerned with the rapid growth of tourism infrastructure in Raja Ampat, particularly the construction of overwater accommodation in areas that serve as important feeding grounds for the shark, including in Arborek village, one of six study sites for the study in the Dampier Strait in Raja Ampat.
“With the development of tourism in Raja Ampat, many homestays are being built above seagrass beds,” Edy said. “Those seagrass ecosystems are important habitats where ‘walking sharks’ forage for food. When they are damaged, the sharks lose their critical resources.”
The sharks also face threats from climate change, especially from the rise in seawater temperatures. Edy’s study suggested the fish are able to tolerate water temperatures up to 36 degrees Celsius, but scientists are concerned global heating may increase the frequency of marine heat waves that could affect the shark’s health and long-term survival.
The walking shark also faces less visible threats of nutrient pollution from untreated wastewater generated by tourism activities in Raja Ampat, said marine ecologist and conservationist Agustin Capriati.
“Excess nutrients accelerate algae growth and damage coral reefs,” said Agustin, who was not involved in Edy’s study. “If coral ecosystems deteriorate, ‘walking sharks’ will gradually lose their habitats.”
Protection questions
A 2023 Maritime Affairs and Fisheries ministerial regulation designated “walking sharks” as a fully protected species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature put the species in the “nearly threatened” category.
But Edy argued the regulation only prohibits people from catching or consuming the fish, while not being supported by a clear plan to conserve the species on the ground. “In practice, people know the species exists,” Edy said, “but conservation efforts remain limited because the fish is not viewed as having economic value.”
Sarminto Hadi, the ministry’s director of species and genetic conservation, said the protected status was intended to prevent direct commercial exploitation of the species in its natural habitat. The policy, he added, was based on scientific assessments highlighting the species’ vulnerability due to its inability to migrate when its habitat is disturbed.
Agustin noted that conservation regulations remain poorly enforced in most marine protected areas across the country, including in the Dampier Strait. Further monitoring is needed, she added, to ensure the long-term survival of “walking sharks” with tourism development in Raja Ampat continuing to expand.
Raja Ampat made headlines in May 2025 following protests from environmental group Greenpeace about nickel mining on Gag Island, located about 50 kilometres from Arborek Island, and its threat to marine biodiversity in the region. The government suspended the mining operations following the outcry, before allowing them to resume last September. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
