Covid-19 benefits Indonesia’s Sharks and Rays

Indonesia, which has the world’s highest diversity of sharks, allows the catch of some endangered species for domestic consumption, but loopholes effectively allow the illegal export of protected species. Monga Bay reports the shark and ray fishery in Indonesia has largely ground to a halt as a result of plummeting demand due to COVID-19-related export restrictions and a domestic lockdown that has hit the restaurant industry. West Nusa Tenggara province, the heart of the country’s shark fishery and home to one of the world’s biggest markets for the species, saw trade volume drop by 68% in the first quarter of the year. This is an opportunity to evaluate and improve the fishery by strengthening monitoring and traceability to protect the sustainability of wild populations, while also supporting fishers with alternatives sources of income.