WWF-Malaysia conducting research in Sabah in bid to enhance shark population

KOTA KINABALU: WWF-Malaysia is conducting research in Sabah that is building on a global endeavour by leading shark researchers under the Global FinPrint Project.

The project carried out over 2015-2019 found that while sharks are functionally extinct in 20% of the world's reefs, better management could ensure their long-term survival.

The study - part of which was recently published in the science journal Nature drew international attention - was done using baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS) that was deployed at strategic locations to collect data about shark distribution on reefs worldwide.

BRUVS consist of a video camera placed in front of a standard amount of bait, the camera recording the animals that visit the bait.

The Sabah sampling of the Global FinPrint survey was carried out in 2015 by Dr Samantha Sherman, and consisted of study sites in Pulau Sipadan, Tunku Abdul Rahman Park and Tun Sakaran Park Marine Parks, as well as sites in the Semporna region.

"The surveys in Sabah showed that in well-enforced protected areas such as Pulau Sipadan, sharks are abundant and thriving. This shows that there is promise for shark populations if effective management is put in place," said Dr Sherman, a researcher at Simon Fraser University and TRAFFIC.

However, outside of Pulau Sipadan, fewer sharks were seen in the other areas surveyed although high numbers of rays were observed.

The research being undertaken by WWF-Malaysia, as part of the Sabah Shark and Ray Initiative, aims to strengthen management plans and enable better conservation efforts for reef-dwelling species in Sabah.

"WWF-Malaysia has been conducting BRUVS research in the Tun Mustapha Marine Park (TMP) since 2017, as it is important for us to have a better understanding of species distribution and this would inform us of where we can prioritise protection efforts in TMP," said Monique Sumampouw, who is WWF- Malaysia head of marine programme.

For the TMP study, BRUVS were placed in different locations and left for an average of 60-90 minutes for the camera to capture the visitors. After that, followed the painstaking task of going through the footage of thousands of hours of videos to identify and record the species observed.

Sumampouw said: "Science-based management, conservation policies, and good governance are crucial for healthy shark populations - we hope to contribute to that directly by providing results from our studies to inform park managers and policy makers to collectively identify protection measures in critical habitats of sharks and rays in TMP."

"Sipadan is an example of how good governance and management policies can lead to healthy populations of sharks. Hopefully, such successful policies, and other recommendations from the Global Finprint Project can be considered for adaptation for other marine parks here."

Dr Sherman said Sipadan's success lies in the management of the reef habitat for sharks, as well as the well-enforced no-fishing policy within the park boundaries.

"Other recommendations from the Global FinPrint Project that could feed back into management policies including placing restrictions on gears that have high shark bycatch, such as gillnets and longlines, in order to enhance shark populations.”

Reef ecosystems were surveyed in four key geographic regions - the Indo-Pacific, Pacific, the Western Atlantic and the Western Indian Ocean.

Findings from the study, as well as other projects from the Sabah Shark and Ray Initiative will be presented at the annual forum expected to be held in May 2021.