Discovering the Enigmatic ‘Whip-Tailed’ Thresher Sharks of Indonesia

Researchers and conservationists off Alor Island in the expansive Indonesian archipelago are employing tagging technology to monitor the movement of endangered pelagic thresher sharks (Alopias pelagicus), many of which are young individuals or pregnant females.

The pelagic thresher shark, known for its elongated tail that can reach several meters in length and stun or kill prey with a whipping motion, has experienced a significant decline in population over the past few decades due to hunting. Unfortunately, there have been no regulations in place to protect these sharks in Indonesia, pushing them toward the brink of extinction, as emphasized by Rafid Shidqi, Co-Founder and Director of Thresher Shark Indonesia.

Shidqi and his colleagues have been collaborating with the local community on Alor Island since 2018 in order to improve their perception and interaction with thresher sharks. These sharks have long been viewed as a source of protein in the local diet, leading to unsustainable fishing practices. Shidqi’s goal is to protect the endangered pelagic thresher sharks while also respecting the livelihoods of the communities.

Thresher Shark Indonesia, established by Shidqi and a group of young conservationists, is utilizing acoustic tagging to conduct research on the sharks’ critical habitat. The acquired information will be used to implement site-specific protection measures within the Alor Marine Protected Area.

Origins Far From The Sea

Shidqi grew up in South Tangerang, a small city on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia. Despite not being surrounded by the ocean, he developed a fascination with it from a young age. However, ocean conservation was not considered a viable career path in his traditional Indonesian family, where engineering or medicine were the preferred choices.

Shidqi pursued a marine biology degree and discovered the diverse and captivating reality of the ocean and its intricate relationship with local communities. His journey into conservation began with an internship at the Lamakera Project, which focuses on transitioning traditional manta ray hunting communities to alternative livelihoods. This experience inspired Shidqi to continue working at the intersection of ocean conservation and human well-being.

As a Fellow of the New England Aquarium’s Marine Conservation Action Fund (MCAF), Shidqi recognizes the need for a more inclusive and equitable approach to conservation. Traditionally, conservation efforts have focused on limiting natural resource use by excluding people. However, Shidqi emphasizes the importance of incorporating indigenous knowledge and representation from the Global South to achieve truly fair and sustainable conservation practices.

In Indonesia, where natural resource use has been ingrained for generations, Shidqi believes it is crucial to recognize the responsible extraction practices of indigenous communities that have preserved the environment for centuries.

Another researcher from the Global South, Andres Lopez, a Costa Rican marine biologist and co-founder of the conservation NGO Mision Tiburon, is also dedicated to shark conservation. One of the organization’s key projects is the protection of the Scalloped Hammerhead Shark Sanctuary, declared by the Costa Rican government in 2018 to safeguard critical nursery habitat for these endangered sharks.

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