Report of the Second Workshop on The Biology and Conservation of ...

dugongs by artisanal and commercial coastal andpelagic fisheries in Indonesian waters are largelyunknown — as <strong>the</strong>y are for o<strong>the</strong>r cetacean-fisheryinteractions. However, it is important to note thatIndonesia has <strong>the</strong> largest shark fishery in <strong>the</strong>world and catches more sharks than Malaysia,Philippines and Thailand combined (see reviewby Kahn and Fauzi 2001). In addition, Indonesia’sfisheries are conducted by tens <strong>of</strong> 1000s <strong>of</strong> multispecies,multi-gear vessels, and <strong>the</strong> retention <strong>of</strong>by-caught or deliberately captured small cetaceansfor consumption and/or bait in long-line operationsis thought to be widespread.Limited interviews at sea indicate that artisanalfishermen and small-scale long-line vessels (i.e.,400hooks/set) and <strong>the</strong> large pelagic driftnet fleet areunknown.Small cetaceans are taken deliberately in Indonesiain “tiger nets”. Also called “experimental nets”,<strong>the</strong>se are large-mesh nets set in migratory corridorsor island passages that specifically target largemigratory marine life (Kahn 2002b). Tiger nets aresophisticated structures, <strong>of</strong>ten kept in place with apermanent buoyed frame that may span hundreds<strong>of</strong> meters. Once in place, <strong>the</strong> nets can result inimmensely high catch rates <strong>of</strong> large marine life(e.g. Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi – see alsobelow). Specific characteristics <strong>of</strong> tiger nets thatmake <strong>the</strong>ir use qualify as a destructive fishingpractice (DFP) include:1) They are strategically positioned to catchextremely high numbers <strong>of</strong> large migratory and/orvulnerable marine species.2) Populations can be over-exploited in very shorttime spans (1-2 migratory seasons) yet take decadesto recover, if <strong>the</strong>y recover at all.3) Local fishing practices have major and regionalecological and socio-economic impacts (seebelow).Catch data are available for two sets <strong>of</strong> a Taiwanesetiger net in <strong>the</strong> pelagic migratory channel atTangkoko, Manado area, NE Sulawesi. The tigernet was positioned at <strong>the</strong> entrance <strong>of</strong> LembehStrait, a narrow corridor at <strong>the</strong> eastern tip <strong>of</strong> northSulawesi. The net was in place from March 1996- February 1997. All marine life killed in this netwas processed locally in Bitung, mostly as petfood for export. Because <strong>of</strong> this net’s particulardesign and position, <strong>the</strong> catch included a highspecies diversity and abundance <strong>of</strong> large marinelife: 1,424 manta rays (exact species compositionunknown), 18 whale sharks, 312 o<strong>the</strong>r, unidentifiedsharks, 577 pilot whales (may include o<strong>the</strong>rglobicephalines), four baleen whales (reportedlyminke but likely Bryde’s whales), 326 dolphins <strong>of</strong>unknown species, 789 marlin (species unknown),84 unidentified turtles (species unknown) and ninedugongs. Sightings <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> more heavily impactedspecies have been minimal after <strong>the</strong> removal <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> net (as reported by <strong>the</strong> marine tourism industryin Lembeh and Bunaken National Park, NSWSAunpublished data). Indications are that previouslycommon species in <strong>the</strong> area, such as manta raysand pilot whales, had not recovered as <strong>of</strong> 2002.Unsubstantiated reports mention that permits havebeen issued to <strong>the</strong> same Taiwanese companyresponsible for <strong>the</strong> Lembeh Strait tiger nets for atleast 10 o<strong>the</strong>r identical ‘experimental fish traps’ inremote areas <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Moluccas. It is possible that<strong>Second</strong> <strong>Workshop</strong> on <strong>the</strong> Biology and Conservation <strong>of</strong> Small Cetaceans and Dugongs <strong>of</strong> SE Asia 39