SEMPORNA: The Sabah Fisheries Department has rolled out new measures to support the sustainable management of sharks and rays, including the revision of fisheries zones and seasonal closures in key breeding areas.
Its Director, Datin Dr Shuhadah Mustapha, said the Kudat waters have now been designated as a protected breeding ground, with commercial trawlers and purse seiners banned from operating there from May to October every year.
“This measure aims to safeguard vulnerable shark and ray populations during their reproductive season,” she said in her opening address at the Sabah Sustainable Management of Sharks and Rays Workshop, held recently in Semporna.
She was represented by Irman Isnain, Principal Assistant Director of the Department’s Resources, Conservation, and Research Division.
The workshop was jointly organised by the Sabah Fisheries Department, Marine Research Foundation, Green Semporna, and Reef Check Malaysia, with support from the Shark Conservation Fund and Yayasan Sime Darby.
Shuhadah highlighted the crucial role of sharks and rays as apex predators in maintaining the balance of the marine ecosystem. However, she also raised concern over alarming data showing that around 138,000 sharks and rays are caught annually by trawl vessels in Sabah waters.
“Given their low reproductive rates, these species are at serious risk of extinction,” she stressed, underlining the urgency of effective conservation strategies.
The workshop brought together over 65 participants, including anglers from Semporna and Kunak, fisheries officers, and marine conservation NGO representatives.
Discussions focused on bycatch reduction, community-led conservation, and mapping of critical shark and ray habitats around Semporna.
The Fisheries Department reaffirmed its commitment to science-based fisheries management, with participants calling for such collaborative workshops to be held regularly.
This initiative represents a multi-stakeholder approach aimed at balancing species conservation with the livelihoods of fishing communities — ensuring the protection of sharks and rays while maintaining sustainable fish stocks for future generations.
