Sustainable Utilization and Management of Sharks and Rays in the Southeast Asian Region

Abstract

The Marine Fishery Resource Development and Management Department (MFRDMD) of SEAFDEC has undertaken the vital effort of formulating the Regional Plan of Action (RPOA-Sharks) for the conservation and management of sharks and rays in the Southeast Asian region. RPOA-Sharks emphasized on the need to manage and exploit the shark resources at a sustainable level while safeguarding the fishers’ livelihoods. Although sharks and rays are not targeted for most fisheries in the region, any decision made on regulating the international trade by listing several common species of sharks and rays in Appendix II CITES would affect the livelihoods of the region’s traditional fishers and traders.