The IUCN Species Survival Commission Elasmobranch Biodiversity, Conservation and Management Proceedings of the International Seminar and Workshop, Sabah, Malaysia, July 1997 Edited by Sarah L. Fowler, Tim M. Reed and Frances A. Dipper Occasional Paper of the IUCN Species Survival Commission No. 25 IUCN The World Conservation Union Donors to the SSC Conservation Communications Programme and Elasmobranch Biodiversity, Conservation and Management: Proceedings of the International Seminar and Workshop, Sabah, Malaysia, July 1997 The IUCN/Species Survival Commission is committed to communicate important species conservation information to natural resource managers, decision-makers and others whose actions affect the conservation of biodiversity. The SSC's Action Plans, Occasional Papers, newsletter Species and other publications are supported by a wide variety of generous donors including: The Sultanate of Oman established the Peter Scott IUCN/SSC Action Plan Fund in 1990. The Fund supports Action Plan development and implementation. To date, more than 80 grants have been made from the Fund to SSC Specialist Groups. The SSC is grateful to the Sultanate of Oman for its confidence in and support for species conservation worldwide. The Council of Agriculture (COA), Taiwan has awarded major grants to the SSC's Wildlife Trade Programme and Conservation Communications Programme. This support has enabled SSC to continue its valuable technical advisory service to the Parties to CITES as well as to the larger global conservation community. Among other responsibilities, the COA is in charge of matters concerning the designation and management of nature reserves, conservation of wildlife and their habitats, conservation of natural landscapes, coordination of law enforcement efforts as well as promotion of conservation education, research and international cooperation. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) provides significant annual operating support to the SSC. 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Through science-based advocacy, research and public education, TOC informs, inspires and empowers people to speak and act for the oceans. In all its work, TOC strives to be the world's foremost advocate for the oceans. With its headquarters in the US, The Ocean Conservancy provides invaluable in-kind and funding support to the marine work of SSC. Darwin Initiative for the Survival of Species provided the grant for the project to take place. The World Bank provided funds through their Small Grants Program for participants at the Seminar and Workshop. The Packard Foundation provided funds for the publication of this Proceedings Volume. Naturebureau International supports the work of the Shark Specialist Group through donation of staff time and office facilities. The IUCN Species Survival Commission Elasmobranch Biodiversity, Conservation and Management Proceedings of the International Seminar and Workshop Sabah, Malaysia, July 1997 The IUCN Species Survival Commission Elasmobranch Biodiversity, Conservation and Management Proceedings of the International Seminar and Workshop Sabah, Malaysia, July 1997 Edited by Sarah L. Fowler, Tim M. Reed and Frances A. Dipper Occasional Paper of the IUCN Species Survival Commission No. 25 IUCN - The World Conservation Union 2002 The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN. Published by: IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. IUCN The World Conservation Union Copyright: © 2002 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorised without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Citation: Fowler, S.L., Reed, T.M. and Dipper, F.A. (eds). (2002). Elasmobranch Biodiversity, Conservation and Management: Proceedings of the International Seminar and Workshop, Sabah, Malaysia, July 1997. IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. xv + 258 pp. ISBN: 2-8317-0650-5 Cover photos: ABOVE Whale shark, Rhincodon typus, a focus of several papers in this volume. Photo by Jeremy Stafford-Deitsch. BELOW Images taken in Sabah, Malaysia, during the Darwin Initiative project on elasmobranch biodiversity, conservation and management (left to right): baskets of rays landed at Sandakan fish market; village children studying educational posters and leaflets; local fisherman with the Borneo river shark, Glyphis sp. B. Photos by Scott Mycock and Rachel Cavanagh. Produced by: The Naturebureau, Newbury, UK. Printed by: Information Press, Oxford, UK. Available from: IUCN Publications Services Unit 219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, United Kingdom Tel: +44 1223 277894, Fax: +44 1223 277175 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.iucn.org A catalogue of IUCN publications is also available. The text of this book is printed on 115 gsm Zone Silk, which is rated as 4-star under the Eco-Check system and is made from 100% sustainable fibre sources using chlorine-free processes. Dedication This volume is dedicated to the memory of Sid Cook, Shark Specialist Group Member, Regional Vice Chair for the Northeast Pacific region of the Shark Specialist Group, advisor to the Darwin Project on Elasmobranch Biodiversity Conservation and Management in Sabah, and friend. Contents Foreword xi Pilot Fisheries Socio-economic Survey of Two Coastal Areas in Eastern Sabah 33 Acknowledgements xii Patricia C. Almada-Villela Introduction 33 Executive Summary xiii Material and methods 33 Socio-economic context of the elasmobranch Editor's Note xiv fisheries in the area 34 Results 36 Acronyms xv General issues to be considered 42 Conclusions 44 Overview and Conclusions 1 Preliminary recommendations 44 Seminar objectives and outputs 1 Acknowledgements 44 Workshop conclusions 1 References 44 Keynote Address 7 Elasmobranchs as a Recreational Resource 46 Yang Berhormat Datuk Pandikar Amin Haji Mulia R. Charles Anderson Introduction 46 Elasmobranch Biodiversity, Conservation and Recreational diving 46 Management in Sabah 9 Sports fishing 48 Sarah L. Fowler Aquarium display 49 Introduction 9 Conclusions 50 Methods 10 Acknowledgements 50 Results and discussion 10 References 50 Conclusions 12 Acknowledgements 13 Review of the Biodiversity of Sharks and Chimaeras References 13 in the South China Sea and Adjacent Areas 52 L.J. V. Compagno Trends and Patterns in World and Asian Introduction 52 Elasmobranch Fisheries 15 Hydrography 52 Ramón Bonfil Biodiversity of chimaeroids and sharks in the region .. 54 Introduction 15 Discussion 60 Utilisation 15 Acknowledgements 61 Fisheries 16 References 62 Patterns of global exploitation of elasmobranchs 16 Trends of catches in important elasmobranch Review of the Biodiversity of Rays in the fishing nations 19 South China Sea and Adjacent Areas 64 Recreational fisheries 22 P.R. Last and L.J. V. Compagno Discussion 22 Introduction 64 Conclusions 23 Biodiversity of rays in the region 64 Recommendations 24 Discussion 68 References 24 Acknowledgements 69 References 69 An Overview of Sharks in World and Regional Trade 25 New Records of Elasmobranch Species from Sabah .... 70 Noorainie Awang Anak Bernadette Mabel Manjaji Introduction 25 Introduction 70 Sources of information 25 Objectives 70 Types of chondrichthyan fisheries 26 Methods 70 Trade in shark products 26 Results and discussion 71 Conclusions 31 Distribution and abundance 74 References 32 Conclusion 76 vii Acknowledgements