Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Sharks, Rays and Skates Data Collection in the Southeast Asian Waters

Abstract

Over the past two decades, human exploitation of sharks has substantially increased worldwide. Worldwide increasingly concerns and attempts are on sharks conservation and management. The Southeast Asian region has richest elasmobranches in the world but the stock status of elasmobranches and their fisheries of this region are still largely unknown. Due to lack of available catch, landings and trade data as well as limited information on the biology parameters of many species and their identification, the necessary information are required for research, management and conservation of elasmobranches in this region. SEAFDEC in collaboration with its member countries developed “Standard Operating Procedures for Sharks, Rays and Skates Data Collection in the Southeast Asian Waters” (SOP-sharks) to serve as a guideline and reference for enumerators to regionalize sampling method for sharks, rays and skates data collections aiming to ensure that data recording, analysis, compilation, and reporting are be able to compile for the Southeast Asian countries.