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Shark Populations in Marine Protected Areas in Raja Ampat

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Shark Populations in Marine Protected Areas in Raja Ampat Running Head: SHARK POPULATIONS IN MARINE PROTECTED AREAS IN RAJA AMPAT DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE OF SHARKS IN NONO----TAKETAKE AND FISHED SITES IN THE MARINE PROTECTED AREA NETWORK OF RAJA AMPAT, WEST PAPUA, INDONESIA, USING BAITED REMOTE UNDERWATER VIDEO (BRUVs(BRUVs)))) By ANGELA JUNE ELIZE BEER B.Sc., Queen’s University, 2001 B.Ed., Lakehead University, 2003 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in ENVIRONMENT AND MANAGEMENT We accept this thesis as conforming to the required standard .......................................................... Dr. Steven Lindfield, Thesis Supervisor University of Western Australia .......................................................... Dr. Audrey Dallimore, Thesis Coordinator School of Environment and Sustainability .......................................................... Dr. Chris Ling, Director School of Environment and Sustainability ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY February 2015 © Angela June Elize Beer, 2015 SHARK POPULATIONS IN MARINE PROTECTED AREAS IN RAJA AMPAT 2 Abstract Sharks are essential elements for healthy marine ecosystems and require conservation. A new law has been passed for their protection in Raja Ampat, Indonesia, yet there is a lack of knowledge about their current status in the region. This research quantifies diversity and abundance of shark populations in two areas (Penemu and Dampier Straight) within Raja Ampat, and provides a comprehensive baseline for the areas to evaluate management strategies. Baited remote underwater video systems were used to survey shark populations in no-take and fished sites, across a 3 to 80 m depth gradient. Overall, nine species of sharks from five families were recorded; Carcharhinus melanopterus was the most abundant species. PERMANOVA analysis showed no statistical difference between areas nor zoning status; likely due to the relatively recent designation of the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and inconsistent management/enforcement. Greater shark abundance overall was recorded in Penemu than in Dampier Strait, whereas Dampier exhibited greater diversity of species. Penemu also showed a greater difference in shark abundance between the fished and no-take zones, with more sharks in fishing-prohibited no-take zones. Over the depth gradient studied, there was an inverse trend for species richness and abundance, with the greatest shark abundance in shallow samples, whereas the greatest shark diversity was at depth. These results provide important knowledge on the distribution of these valuable, yet poorly understood, apex predators in Raja Ampat, West Papua. Furthermore the findings and protocols developed in this study will benefit the management planning of the Raja Ampat MPA network . SHARK POPULATIONS IN MARINE PROTECTED AREAS IN RAJA AMPAT 3 Table of Contents Abstract ...................................................................................................................................................... 2 Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................... 3 List of Figures ........................................................................................................................................... 5 List of Tables ............................................................................................................................................ 5 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................ 7 Introduction and Background............................................................................................................ 9 Sharks – Importance and Global Status ......................................................................................................9 Conservation in Raja Ampat ......................................................................................................................... 10 MPAs and Shark Protection .......................................................................................................................... 12 Raja Ampat Shark Sanctuary ....................................................................................................................... 13 Studying Shark Populations – the use BRUVs ........................................................................................ 14 Significance and Application of the Research ........................................................................................ 15 Research Question and Objectives ............................................................................................................ 15 Research Questions ...................................................................................................................................................... 15 Research Objectives ..................................................................................................................................................... 15 Research Methodology ...................................................................................................................... 16 Description of Study Areas ........................................................................................................................... 16 Study Species ..................................................................................................................................................... 19 Research Design and Sampling Strategy ................................................................................................. 19 Sampling Technique and Equipment: Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUVs) Systems21 BRUVs equipment setup and standardization. ................................................................................................. 21 Data collection and standardization ...................................................................................................................... 23 Data Analysis ..................................................................................................................................................... 23 Video processing ........................................................................................................................................................... 23 Statistical analysis ......................................................................................................................................................... 24 Results ..................................................................................................................................................... 26 Shark Diversity and Abundance ................................................................................................................. 26 Variation Between Area and Status ........................................................................................................... 27 Variation Between Depths ............................................................................................................................ 30 Overall depth variation. .............................................................................................................................................. 30 Area-related depth variation. ................................................................................................................................... 31 Status-related depth variation. ................................................................................................................................ 32 Shark Population Assemblage Variation ................................................................................................. 32 Species-related Variation in Depth ........................................................................................................................ 36 Field Work Effort and Efficiency ................................................................................................................. 39 Discussion .............................................................................................................................................. 40 The Effectiveness of MPAs for Conservation of Shark Populations in Raja Ampat .................. 40 The Effect of Depth on Shark Abundance ................................................................................................ 43 Shark Diversity Recorded in Raja Ampat ................................................................................................ 45 Shark Assemblages in Raja Ampat ............................................................................................................. 49 Significance of the Research and Implication for Conservation Efforts ....................................... 51 Lessons and Recommendations for Studying Shark Populations in Raja Ampat ..................... 52 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................................ 55 SHARK POPULATIONS IN MARINE PROTECTED AREAS IN RAJA AMPAT 4 References .............................................................................................................................................. 56 Appendix 1: Marine Protected Areas in Raja Ampat .............................................................. 64 Appendix 2: List of Shark
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