chondrichthyans biodiversity in the southeast asian ... - seafdec.org.my

CHONDRICHTHYANS BIODIVERSITY IN THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN REGION
Ahmad Ali
Senior Researcher-SEAFDEC-MFRDMD/DoF
Malaysia
(Co- Regional Vice Chair)
IUCN Shark Specialist Group
Southeast Asia Region
Annie Lim Pek Khiok
Senior Laboratory Assistant
Department of Fisheries Malaysia
(Member IUCN Shark Specialist Group)
Southeast Asia Region

Contents
1. COMPILATION OF INFORMATION AND STUDY ON CHONDRICHTHYANS
TAXONOMY AND BIOLOGY IN THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN REGION
2. COMPILATION OF INFORMATION AND STUDY ON THEIR HABITAT
PREFERENCES
3. HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
4. SHARKS AND RAYS RESOURCE ENHANCEMENT
5. PUBLIC AWARENESS
6. ISSUES AND CHALLENGES
7. CONCLUSION

Fish
Class
Chondrichthyes
Class
Osteichthyes
Cartilaginous fish
(sharks, skates, rays, chimaeras)
Bony fish

Class: CHONDRICHTHYES
Subclass HOLOCEPHALII
(Chimaeras or Ghostsharks)
Subclass ELASMOBRANCHII
RAYS
SHARKS
Electric Ray
Wedgefish
Skate
Sawfishes
Stingrays

COMPILATION OF INFORMATION AND STUDY ON CHONDRICHTHYANS TAXONOMY AND
BIOLOGY IN SOUTHEAST ASIAN REGION
IUCN SSG Darwin Projek in Sabah (Jan
1996- June 1997) in Sabah (DoF
Sabah/IUCN)
Comprehensive study of chondrichthyans
taxonomy and biology in Malaysia and
Brunei Darussalam (1999-2012)-
SEAFDEC/DoF Msia and DoF Brunei
Darussalam
Shark data collection (2003-2004)-
SEAFDEC/DoF SEAFDEC member Countries
Comprehensive study involving
taxonomists and parasitologist from USA,
Australia and Malaysia (2002-2004):
National Science Foundation
Literature search (1849-2012)
Research expeditions (1998-2010)
Training Cruise (2000-2009)
Unscheduled monitoring program 2005-
2011
SCUBA (1999-2011)
Media
Fishers
Museums
Laboratories collection
Research team (1999-2004)
Focus in Malaysia and Brunei DS
Taxonomists & Parasitologist Research
Team (2002-2004)
Research Focus in Borneo
(Malaysia/Indonosia)

Market Surveys
Kuala Terengganu, Dungun, Kemaman, Cukai
(Terengganu)
Alor Setar, Langkawi (Kedah)
Kota Bharu, Pengkalan Petah and Wakaf Baru
(Kelantan)
Chowrasta (Penang)
Kuantan, Tg. Lumpur, Kuala Lipis (Pahang)
Selayang Wholesale Market Kuala Lumpur
(Kuala Lumpur)
Kuching, Bintulu, Lawas and Mukah (Sarawak)
Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan (Sabah)
Labuan
Jerudong (Brunei Darussalam)
Mersing, Sedeli, Johor Bharu (Johor)
Research team (1999-2004)
Focus in Malaysia and Brunei
Darussalam
Landing Sites
Kuching, Mukah, Tg. Manis, Bintulu, (Sarawak)
Kuantan, Rompin (Pahang)
Pulau Kambing, Besut, Chendering (Terengganu)
Kuala Kedah (Kedah)
Kuala Perlis (Perlis)
Sedeli and Mersing (Johor)
Batu Maung (Penang)
Lumut, Hutan Melintang (Perak)
Geting (Kelantan)
Pengkalan Balak, (Melaka)
Mersing, Sedeli, Johor Bharu (Johor)

Taxonomists & Parasitologist Research Team
(2002-2004)
Research Focus in Borneo (Malaysia/Indonesia)

FRI (Sarawak) &
SEAFDEC/MFRDMD
(Terengganu)
Reference Collection
(CHONDRICHTHYANS)
(1995-2012)

Specimens/Pictures From Research
Expedition/Training Cruise/Fishers
Preserved Specimens
SEAFDEC Training Department, Bangkok Thailand
Fisheries Research Institute, Bintawa, Sarawak
Fisheries Research Institute, Batu Maung, Penang
Marine Fishery Resources Development and
Management Department, Chendering Terengganu
Sabah Museum, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Department of Fisheries Perak (thresher sharks caught
by local fishermen)
National Museum, Kuala Lumpur (sawfish caught by a
fisherman from Malacca in the Straits of Malacca in
2002).
Photographic Identification
Several species were also
identified from
photographs provided by
the Fisheries Research
Institute, Bintawa in
Sarawak. The photographs
were taken during
resource surveys in Sabah
and Sarawak waters.

From landing sites
(Coastal and deep sea)

Sawfishes Pristis microdon (caught in Malacca Straits in 2002) (now preserved at
National Museum in Kuala Lumpur)

Sabah Museum, Malaysia
Pristis microdon
Pristis zijstron
Identified from rostrums

Deepwater species caught by KK Manchong during the Resource Survey
of the Sabah and Sarawak waters: July to September 1998
Plesiobatis daviesi

Literature search
Published in 1956
Pristis microdon
Sometimes immense
sawfish, a kind of ray
are taken in the fish
traps.
Young sawfish are
commonly caught
and offered for sale
but the adults
grow to an enormous
size and must be
treated very
cautiously. A fine
collection of saws is to
be seen at Belawai
Anoxypristis cuspidata
Pristis microdon

Historical and Current Publication
Cantor (1849) published a catalogue of Malaysian fishes, comprising
292 fishes and only 28 species of sharks and rays.
Smith (1945), 6 elasmobranch species in freshwater including 2
species of sawfishes.
Scott (1959) described 294 marine fishes of Malaysia, of which, only 25
species are sharks and rays.
Mohammed Shaari (1971) identified 6 species of sharks and rays in the
trawl catches of Penang waters.
Monkolprasit (1984), 65 species sharks and rays in Thailand
Mohsin and Ambak (1996) provided taxonomic keys to 40 species of
sharks and rays from 19 families found in Malaysian waters.
Mansor et al. (1998) produced a field guide on commercial marine
fishes of the South China Sea area describing 8 species of sharks and 8
species of rays
Ahmad et al (1999) . 89 species of elasmobranch recorded in EEZ of
Malaysia.
Manjaji (2002) has managed to record 32 species of sharks and 41
species of rays in both inland and marine waters of Sabah in an 18-
month shark biodiversity study.

Compagno, (2002) and Last and Compagno, (2002). 243 species (136
sharks, 103 rays and 4 Chimaera inhabited SEA region
Vidthayanon, (2002) 145 species (74 sharks, 70 batoids recorded in
Thailand waters
Yano, et al . (2005) .110 species ( 56 species sharks, 52 species rays, 2
chimaeras) in Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam
Compagno et al. (2005), (163 ) 94 sharks , 66 rays and 3 species of
chimaeras found in the Philippines waters
White, et al (2006). 137 species (78 sharks, 56 rays and three chimaeras)
in Indonesia
Long, (2006). 46 species of sharks and rays recorded in Vietnam
Sereywath, (2006) 45 species sharks and rays in Cambodia
Moe and Thein, (2006). 32 species of sharks in Myanmar
Last (2010). 139 species of sharks and rays inhabited the Philippines
waters.
Fahmi, 2010. (213 species) 112 sharks, 98 rays and 3 chimaeras recorded
in Indonesia.

Research: Funding From SEAFDEC/JICA
Publication: Funding From DoF Malaysia

Special taxonomic publication to document
updated names for some of the species that
were once considered widespread in the Indo-
Pacific, but which are now known to have
more restricted distributions.
7 new species are formally described, 3 species
are resurrected, and two other poorly known
species are redescribed in 11 separate papers.
Research for these papers extends over two
decades and has involved many people in
many different ways.

Summary of Elasmobranch Biodiversity in SEA
Sharks Rays Total (Sharks + Rays) Source
Country Total family Total Total family Total species Family Species
species
Indonesia 26 111 17 104 43 214 Fahmi (2010), Ahmad and Annie
(2012), Ahmad et al (2012)
Malaysia 18 63 15 79 33 141 Ahmad and Annie (2012),
Ahmad et al (2012)
Thailand 21 64 13 64 33 127 Ahmad and Annie (2012),
Ahmad et al (2012)
Philippines 26 94 18 66 44 160 Ahmad and Annie (2012)
Compagno et al. (2005)
Vietnam 13 29 ? 17 ? 46 Long, (2006), Ahmad and Annie
(2012)
Cambodia 5 11 ? 34 ? 45 Sereywath, (2006), Ahmad and
Annie (2012)
Myanmar 10 34 ? ? ? ? Moe and Thein, (2006), Ahmad
and Annie (2012)
Brunei DS 13 34 ? ? ? ? Yano et al. (2005), Ahmad and
Annie (2012)
Note: Not include Chimaeras

Recent worldwide resurgence in chondrichthyan
systematics has resulted in some extensive
reviews and revisions of major groups. Total
number recorded in the world is now more than
1100 species.
The elasmobranchs biodiversity in SEA Region is
among the richest in the world. There are 7
orders of sharks (174 species) and 6 orders of
batoids (? species).
Indonesia recorded the highest biodiversity of
sharks with at least 111 species of sharks from
26 families followed by Philippine (94 species,
26 families ) Thailand (64 species, 21 families)
and Malaysia with 63 species (18 families).
As for rays, Indonesia also have the highest
number with 104 species from 17 families
followed by Malaysia with 79 species (15
families), Philippines (66 species) and Thailand
64 species (13 families).

The biodiversity of
elasmobranch in
Myanmar, Cambodia
and Vietnam is poorly
known due to the
limited taxonomic study.
The studies in those
countries are hampered
by lack of funding as
well as shortage of
taxonomists and
reference collections.

16 New Species of Elasmobranch Recorded in Malaysian / Kalimantan
(Indonesia) Waters (2005-2010)
Sharks
1 Cephaloscyllium circulupullum
Yano, Ahmad and Gambang 2005
2 Cephaloscyllium sarawakensis
Yano, Ahmad and Gambang 2005
3 Mustelus widodoi White & Last,
2006
4 Squalus altipinnis Last, White &
Stevens, 2007
5 Halaelurus maculosus White, Last
& Stevens, 2007
6 Orectolobus leptolineatus Last,
Pogonoski & White, 2010
7 Glyphis fowlerae Compagno, White
& Cavanagh, 2010
Batoids
1 Pastinachus solocirostris Last, Manjaji &
Yearsley, 2005
2 Himantura lobistoma Manjaji-Matsumoto &
Last, 2006
3 Dasyatis parvonigra Last & White, 2008
4 Himantura leoparda Manjaji-Matsumoto & Last,
2008
5 Rhynchobatus springeri Compagno & Last, 2010
6 Okamejei cairae Last, Fahmi & Ishihara, 2010
7 Okamejei jensenae Last & Lim, 2010
8 Glyphis sp. [Last et al., 2010] 8 Pastinachus gracilicaudus Last & Manjaji-
Matsumoto, 2010

Achievement in Taxonomy Work (1999-2011)
NEW SPECIES
Yano
Cephaloscyllium circulupullum Yano, Ahmad and Gambang 2005
English name: Circle –blotch pygmy swell shark
Malay names: Yu buncit, Yu buntal, Yu kembung
Japanese name: Maruten ko-nanukazame
Ahmad
Cephaloscyllium sarawakensis Yano, Ahmad and Gambang 2005
English name: Sarawak pygmy swell shark
Malay names: Yu buncit, Yu buntal, Yu kembung
Japanese name: Ko-nanukazame
Source: Yano et al., 2005
Gambang

NEW SPECIES
Glyphis fowlerae Compagno, White & Cavanagh,
2010
Mukah River Shark
Glyphis sp.
Recorded in Kinabatangan River in Sabah
Source: Last et al., 2010
Recorded in fresh water river
(Mukah River in Sarawak)
Source: Last et al., 2010

NEW SPECIES
Known from a few specimens
collected off southeastern Sabah
(Semporna) and Sarawak
Indonesian Wobbegong
Orectolobus leptolineatus Last, Pogonoski & White, 2010
Identified as Orectolobus maculatus in Yano et al., 2005

A new species of skate Okamejei jensenae Last & Lim, 2010
from the seas off Borneo
Described based on specimens
collected from the Sulu Sea off
Malaysian Borneo and the Philippines.
Distinguished from other members of
the genus found in this region by a
combination of coloration,
squamation, morphometrics and
meristics.

Off Lahad Datu, eastern
Sabah
Lateral posterior tail
Philippine Ocellate Skate
Okamejei jensenae Last & Lim, 2010

NEW SPECIES
black pectoral spot usually closely
surrounded by 4–5 white spots
A few records from brackish
habitats of southern Sarawak
Broadnose Wedgefish
Rhynchobatus springeri Compagno & Last, 2010
snout broad with a convex
margin

NEW SPECIES
Nuchal area
Patchy, in western and
northern Borneo
Lateral tail - at midlength
of ventral fold
Narrowtail Stingray
Pastinachus gracilicaudus Last & Manjaji-Matsumoto, 2010
Local synonyms: Confused with Pastinachus sephen (Forsskål)

Rediscovery of the rare and endangered Borneo
Shark Carcharhinus borneensis (Bleeker, 1858)
William White 1 , Peter R. Last 1 & Annie P.K. Lim 2
1 CSIRO Marine & Atmospheric Research, Wealth from Oceans
Flagship, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, TAS, 7001, AUSTRALIA
2 Fisheries Research Institute Sarawak, Jalan Perbadanan,
93744, Kuching, Sarawak, MALAYSIA
Carcharhinus borneensis is considered to be
one of the rarest and most poorly known
carcharhinid sharks, previously only known
from five valid specimens, all of which are
juveniles.
During recent surveys of the shark and ray
fauna of Borneo, a moderately large number of
specimens were recorded from one locality off
Sarawak.
This species appears to have a very restricted
range and actions to conserve it in the small
area it occurs are urgently required.

NEW RECORDS
Known only from off
Sarawak
Indonesian Speckled Catshark
Halaelurus maculosus White, Last & Stevens, 2007
Local synonyms: Halaelurus cf buergeri (Müller & Henle): White et al., (2006);
Halaelurus buergeri (Müller & Henle): Yano et al. (2005); Halaelurus sp. 1: White (2007).

NEW RECORDS
Northern Borneo, from
Sabah and northern Sarawak
Western Highfin Spurdog
Squalus altipinnis Last, White & Stevens, 2007

NEW RECORDS
Known from the South
China Sea, off Sarawak and Sabah
Starspotted Smoothhound
Mustelus manazo Bleeker, 1854
Local synonyms: Mustelus mosis Hemprich & Ehrenberg: Yano et al., (2005)

NEW RECORDS
Known only from northwestern
Sabah
Whitefin Smoothhound
Mustelus widodoi White & Last, 2006
Local synonyms: Mustelus sp. 1: White et al., (2006)

NEW RECORDS
Known only from northwestern
Sabah
Whitefin Smoothhound
Mustelus widodoi White & Last, 2006
Local synonyms: Mustelus sp. 1: White et al., (2006)

NEW RECORDS 2009
Prionace glauca (Linnaeus, 1758)
Known from a single record
off Sabah; also in 2009 caught by rawai
during Sulu-Sulawesi Expedition

NEW RECORDS
Off central Sarawak
Spot-tail Sleeper Ray
Narke dipterygia (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
Mouth and nostrils

NEW RECORDS
Juvenile (14 cm)
Off Sarawak and
eastern Sabah
Mouth and nostrils
Shortlip Numbfish
Narcine brevilabiata Bessednov, 1966

NEW RECORDS
Borneo Leg Skate
Sinobatis borneensis (Chan, 1965)
Known from the holotype
collected in the South China Sea,
off Sarawak

REDESCRIPTION
Off Sarawak
Lateral tail
Kwangtung Skate
Dipturus kwangtungensis (Chu 1960)
Local synonyms: Raja (Okamejei) hollandi Jordan & Richardson: Yano et al. (2005)

RESURRECTION
Occurs around the Borneo
coastline, but more common at particular
localities, such as Mukah (Sarawak)
Borneo Broadfin Shark
Lamiopsis tephrodes (Fowler, 1905)
Local synonyms: Lamiopsis temmincki (Müller & Henle): Yano et al.,
(2005), White et al., (2006); Carcharhinus microphthalmus Chu, 1960

RESURRECTION
Pacific Spadenose Shark
Scoliodon macrorhynchos (Bleeker, 1852)
Local synonyms: Scoliodon laticaudus Müller & Henle: Yano et al., (2005),
White et al., (2006)

RESURRECTION
Widespread
Nuchal area
Eastern Cowtail Stingray
Pastinachus atrus (Macleay, 1883)
Lateral tail - at midlength of
ventral fold
Local synonyms: Pastinachus sephen (Forsskål): Yano et al., (2005), White et al., (2006)

RESURRECTION
Widespread
Whitespotted Eagle Ray
Aetobatus ocellatus (Kuhl, 1823)
Juvenile - dorsal disc (465 mm DW)
Local synonyms: Aetobatus narinari (Euphrasen, 1790): Yano et al., (2005), White et al., (2006);
Aetobatus cf. narinari (Euphrasen, 1790): Compagno et al., (2005); Aetobatus guttatus (Shaw, 1804):
Compagno & Last (1999); Raia quinqueaculeata Quoy & Gaimard, 1824

New Record (yes) or New Species (?)
Family Proscylliidae Pygmy Ribbontail Cat shark Eridacnis cf radcliffei
Born; 11cm TL, Max TL: 24cm, Mature: Male= 18cm, female= 15cm
Caught in Sarawak waters in 2010

Not identified yet

B. BIOLOGY
Milk Shark
Rhizoprionodon acutus (Rüppell, 1837)
1. Focus on compilation information on
size at first maturity and number of eggs/number
of embryo in ovary (Published in 2006)
2. DNA (taxonomy): Just started in 2011

About 57% of Chondrichthyans give birth
to live young;

• 43% lay large eggs contained in
horney capsule (up to 50 egg cases/yr)

10 embryos
Pacific Spadenose Shark
Scoliodon macrorhynchos (Bleeker, 1852)

5 embryos (Gymnura poecilura)

Dasyatis zugei
7 pups (Dasyatis zugei)

Rhynchobatus australiae / 18 embryos

Carcharhinus sealei
(2 pups)

Hemigaleus microstoma
(Weasel shark- 7 pups)

Pastinachus solocirostris-2 pups

Gestation period and number of pups
No.
Species
No. of pups
Gestation
periods
Sexes
Maturity size
(cm)
VIVIPAROUS
1. Eusphyrna blochii 6-25 10-11 ♀
♂
2. Spyhrna lewini 13-30 9-10 ♀
♂
3. Carcharhinus
amblyrhynchoides
120
108
200
140-160
3 9-10 ♂♀ 110-115
4. Carcharhinus brevipinna 3-15 No. Info 150
5. Carcharhinus falciformis 2-15 No. Info ♂♀ 200-210
6. Carcharhinus galapagensis 6-16 No. Info ♂ 210-230
7. Carcharhinus limbatus 1-10 No. Info ♀
♂
120-190
135-180
8. Carcharhinus macloti 2 12 ♂♀ 70-75
9. Carcharhinus melanopterus 2-4 8-9 ♂♀ 95-110
10. Carcharhinus plumbeus 3-8 12 ♀
♂
145-185
130-180

11. Carcharhinus sealei 1-2 No. Info ♂♀ 70-80
12. Carcharhinus sorrah 1-8 10 ♂♀ 90-95
13. Loxodon macrorhinus 2 No. Info ♂♀ 60-80
14. Rhizoprionodon acutus 2-8 12 ♂♀ 75
15. Rhizoprionodon oligolinx 3-5 No. Info ♂♀ 35-40
16. Scoliodon laticaudus 1-14
5-14
No. Info
♀
♂
33-35
24-36
17. Triaenodon obesus 1-5 No. Info ♂♀ 105
18. Chaenogaleus macrostoma 4 No. Info ♂ 68-97
19. Hemipristis elongatus 2-11 7-8 ♀
♂
20. Hemigaleus microstoma 1-19 6 ♀
♂
120
110
65
60

21. Carcharhinus leucas 1-14 10-11 ♀
♂
22. Sphyrna mokarran 6-38 10 ♀
♂
180-230
160-225
210
225
23. Carcharhinus dussumieri 1-4 No. Info ♂♀ 70
24. Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos 1-6 12 ♂♀ 130-140
25. Lamiopsis temmincki 4-8 No. Info ♂
♀
114
130-162
26. Alopios pelagicus (oviphagus) >2 No. Info ♀ >264
27. Isurus oxyrinchus (oviphagus) 4-16 No. Info ♀
♂
28. Galeocerdo cuvier 10-80 12 ♀
♂
29. Mustelus mosis About 4 No info ♂
♀
280
195
330
300
63-67
82

OVIPAROUS
30. Heterodontus zebra No info No info ♂ 64-84
31. Stegostoma fasciatum 13-17 e.cases/year No info ♀
♂
169-171
147-183
32. Chiloscyllium punctatum About 50 e.cases/year 3 ♂ 68-76
33. Chiloscyllium plagiosum About 50 e.cases/year No info ♂
♀
34. Chiloscyllium indicum About 50 e.cases/year No info ♂
♀
50 to 83
95
39-42
43
35. Chiloscyllium griseum About 50 e.cases/year No info ♂ 45-55
36. Chiloscyllium hasselti About 50 e.cases/year No info ♂
♀
44-54
54-59

C.IDENTIFY HABITAT PREFERENCES
• Information from research/training activities (trawl, longlines)
• Information from published report
• Information from fishers (traditional knowledge)
• Information from landing side (refer to categories of fishing
vessel)

Category of Habitat
• According to Compagno (2002) and Last and Compagno (2002) habitat
occupied by sharks and rays are categories into three categories;
1. The marine continental and insular shelves (from fresh water lakes and river to
200m depth,
2. The continental and insular slopes below 200m and extending to 2000m depth,
3. 0ceanic realm beyond the continental shelves and above the slopes and ocean
floor.

Many species overlap two or more of
these categories as shown below
Type of Habitat
Shelf to slope
Slope to oceanic
Shelf to oceanic
Shelf to semi-oceanic
Wide range of habitats
Euryhaline freshwater/shelves
Confined in oceanic
Continental/insular shelves
Continental/insular slopes
Obligate freshwater
Code
SHS
SOC
SHO
SSO
WRH
SHF
OCE
SHL
SLO
FWO

Summary for Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand
(Source: Ahmad et al., in press)
All countries
(Total number of
species))
Malaysia
(Number of species)
Indonesia
(Number of species)
Thailand
(Number of
species)
Habitat Sharks Rays Sharks Rays Sharks Rays Sharks Rays
SHS 26 8 11 4 19 5 9 0
SLO 20 7 2 1 20 7 1 0
SOC 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
OCE 3 1 0 1 3 1 0 1
SHL 58 92 37 62 50 79 38 51
SHO 8 8 4 6 6 7 7 5
WRH 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
SSO 5 0 4 0 5 0 5 0
SHF 5 3 3 3 4 3 2 3
FWO 1 4 1 2 0 2 0 4
Total species 129 123 62 79 110 104 63 64

Overall habitat preference (in percentage) for sharks and rays
species in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand
(Source Ahmad et al in press)

Habitats preferences (in percentage) for sharks and rays
species in Malaysia (Source Ahmad et al in press)

Habitats preferences (in percentage) for sharks and rays
species in Indonesia (Source Ahmad et al in press)

Habitats preferences (in percentage) for sharks
and rays species in Thailand (Source Ahmad et al in press)

SHO: Shelf to oceanic
Alopias pelagicus
Pelagic Thresher
SLO: Continental/insular slopes
Isurus oxyrinchus
Shortfin Mako

Carcharhinus sorrah-SHL
Spot-tail Shark
Galeocerdo cuvier- SSO
Tiger Shark
Carcharhinus melanopterus-SHL
Blacktip reef shark
Triaenodon obesus- SHL
Whitetip Reef Shark
Eusphyra blochii -SHL
Winghead shark
Sphyrna mokarran- SSO
Great Hammerhead

Apristurus platyrhynchus- SLO
Bigfin Catshark
Atelomycterus marmoratus- SHL
Coral Catshark
Cephaloscyllium sarawakensis- SHS
Sarawak Swellshark

Freshwater stingray (Sg. Jelai)
Habitat: 300 km from river mouth (in the middle of Peninsular Malaysia/fresh water river)

Freshwater stingray
Himantura polylepis
Identiry as Himatura chaophraya in Yano et al., 2005

Himantura chaophraya- Spesies pari air tawar paling besar

Captured during Fisheries Expedition 2009 in Sulu Sea off Sabah.
Previously reported in Malaysian waters based on photographic identification:
Pelagic stingray
Pteroplatytrygon violacea- OCE

SHL
SHF
SHF

Glyphis fowlerae Compagno, White & Cavanagh, 2010
Freshwater sharks
Recorded in Kinabatangan River in Sabah
Source: Last et al., 2010
Recorded in fresh water river
(Mukah River in Sarawak)
Mukah River Shark
Glyphis sp.
Source: Last et al., 2010

D. HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
• Conduct series of training for DoF staff since 2003
• Not consistent due to very limited budget
• Publications of taxonomy book on shark in local language
Budget from DoF Malaysia

Pocket size field guide
2007
Budget from DoF Malaysia
2007

Training Facilities at SEAFDEC-MFRDMD Laboratory

Training at SEAFDEC-MFRDMD Laboratory

Training at SEAFDEC-MFRDMD Laboratory

(FRI, Sarawak Branch, Kuching)

Study and Training at
Fishing Port/Landing Site

Taxonomy Class (FRI Sarawak)

Taxonomy Class (FRI Sarawak)

Compilation of information on incidental catch and stranded whale shark in Malaysia

Mukah December 2009

Johor August, 2009
Butterworth July 2009:
Four fishermen on a fishing trip found a dead whale
shark measuring 5.36m in their net 50 nautical
miles off the coast.

Penang, 2009

F. SHARKS AND RAYS RESOURCE ENHANCEMENT

Deployment of Concrete Artificial Reefs in Coastal Areas
Note: Some areas Identified As Breeding Ground for Sharks and Rays
Size:
Small:1.8 mx 1.8 m x 1.8 m
Weight : 6 tonnes
Big. 3.8m x 3.8 m x 3. 8 m
Weight : 42 tonnes
107 locations in all
states.
Each location :
12-138 modules
Budget: DoF only:
more than
RM 30 million
From 2006-2010
12 designs
Main objectives: Protection from illegal trawlers and resource enhancement

Stingrays near the ARs

SCUBA

Chiloscyllium griseum Müller and Henle, (1839)

G. PUBLIC AWARENESS
• Publication of books, posters, road show (together with other endangered
species)
• Collaboration works with public aquarium (Located near Petronas Twin
tower, Kuala Lumpur)

Public Awareness
Consultation/Road show with stakeholders
Field Guide for Divers
Poster

Publication of book on sharks in
national language

FIELD GUIDE TO SHARKS OF SARAWAK
106

FIELD GUIDE TO SHARKS OF SARAWAK
107

FIELD GUIDE TO SHARKS OF SARAWAK
108

FIELD GUIDE TO RAYS OF SARAWAK
109

FIELD GUIDE TO RAYS OF SARAWAK
110

H. ASSESSMENT OF SHARKS AND
RAYS SPECIES FOR LISTED
UNDER IUCN RED LIST
CATEGORIES
Extinct
Extinct in the wild
Critically endangered
Threatened
Endangered
Evaluated
Adequate data
Vulnerable
Conservation dependent
Lower risk
Data deficient
Near threatened
Least concern
Not evaluated

Status Survival of Sharks Species In Malaysia, Indonesia
and Thailand on IUCN Red List 2010
No of Species
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
EN CR LC VU DD NT NA
EN CR LC VU DD NT NA
No 2 4 8 20 23 29 43
% 2 3 6 16 18 22 33

H. ASSESSMENT OF SHARKS
SPECIES FOR LISTED UNDER
IUCN RED LIST CATEGORIES
(Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand=129
species)
Extinct
Extinct in the wild
Threatened
Critically endangered
(4 species)
Endangered (2 species)
Adequate data
Vulnerable (20 species)
Evaluated
Conservation dependent
Lower risk
Data deficient
(23 species)
Not evaluated (43 species)
Near threatened
(29 species)
Least concern
(8 species)

Critical Endangered
• Carcharhinus hemiodon (Valenciennes, in
Müller and Henle, 1839): Picture not available
• (Reported in Malaysia and Thailand)
• Very similar with Carcharhinus sorrah

Glyphis fowlerae Compagno, White
& Cavanagh, 2010

Critical Endangered:
All species of sawfishes
Pristis microdon
Pristis zijstron
Identified from rostrums

Carcharhinus dussumieri
Whitecheek Shark
Carcharhinus sealei
Blackspot Shark

Eastern Cowtail Stingray
Pastinachus atrus (Macleay, 1883)
Local synonyms: Pastinachus sephen
(Forsskål): Yano et al. (2005), White et al.
(2006b)
New species
Eastern Cowtail Stingray
Pastinachus solocirostris Last, Manjaji and Yearsley 2005
Local synonyms: Pastinachus cf. sephen (Forsskål): Yano et al. (2005)
New species
Narrowtail Stingray
Pastinachus gracilicaudus Last & Manjaji-Matsumoto, 2010
Local synonyms: Confused with Pastinachus sephen (Forsskål).

Freshwater stingray
Himantura polylepis
Identify as Himatura chaophraya in Yano et al. 2005

Whitespotted Wedgefish
Rhynchobatus australiae Whitley, 1939
snout bottle-shaped,
constricted slightly
near tip
diagonal row of three
equidistant white spots
usually above black
pectoral spot

Smoothnose Wedgefish
Rhynchobatus laevis (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
black pectoral spot usually closely
surrounded by 3 white spots (no diagonal
upper row of spots)

New Species
Broadnose Wedgefish
Rhynchobatus springeri Compagno & Last, 2010
usually with dark markings
on and/or behind eyes
black pectoral spot usually closely
surrounded by 4–5 white spots (no diagonal
upper row of spots)

Lack of funding for Data Collection on Taxonomy,
Biology , Habitats, etc.
Improvement of data collection on landings by major species.
Identification of natural habitats for breeding and nursery
grounds of elasmobranchs for conservation and protection.
Study on biology and taxonomy of elasmobranchs to
determine status of stock.
Improvement of data acquisition on elasmobranch products
and trade.
Collection and compilation of information on stock structure,
abundance, life history and reproduction rates.
Facilitate the identification and reporting of species-specific
biological and trade data.

Lack of Proper Coordinated Research and Expertise on Shark
in SEA Region
Less proper coordination on sharks and rays research among
research institutions universities and non-governmental
organisations in this region.
Research on shark is conducted mainly on individual interest.
Less proper networking among experts and researchers is yet
available.

Suggestions:
Conservation and Management
Identify and provide special
attention in particular to vulnerable
or threatened sharks and rays
stocks.
Identify indicators for sustainable
exploitation.
Establish baseline data on
population and taxonomy.
Conserve and rehabilitate critical
habitats.
Develop sustainable eco-tourism
activities in areas where there are
seasonal aggregation of
elasmobranchs.
Encourage catch-and-release
elasmobranchs among recreational
anglers.

Biological Information of Sharks and Related
Habitats
Collection of information on stock structure,
abundance, life history or reproductive rate of
most species of sharks and rays
Up-grade data collection. Present statistical data
collection does not record landings by species.
This does not indicate the status of the resources
either by abundance, vulnerable or endangered
Allocate more funding. Investment in research
and management of sharks and rays are still
lacking
More attention to fresh water and deep sea
elasmobranch. Information regarding freshwater
sharks and rays , and deep water is still scanty for
the purpose of conservation and management.
Most of these species are endemic in nature.
Therefore, more efforts are needed to protect
them from being over fishing or extinct in the
near future.

• Improved data collection on their
landing is essential so as to provide
more accurate information needed for
their management.
• There is a strong need to improve
shark identification amongst the data
collectors especially at the taxonomic
level (Organise More Training )
• Data on the specific landings of
particular species would be the best
data, while their collection at the
genus level may still be considered as
good if effected, and would be a vast
improvement over the current
situation on the data collection.

Thank You