DOF STRENGTHENS MONITORING, ENFORCEMENT FOLLOWING ONLINE SHARK AND RAY TRADE FINDINGS

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 21 (Bernama) -- The Department of Fisheries (DOF) is taking seriously a recent study by WWF-Malaysia and TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, which revealed that online trade in shark and ray products worth over RM326 million is actively occurring on the country’s major e-commerce platforms.

Its director-general, Datuk Adnan Hussain, said the findings provide key insights into current trade patterns, which could help strengthen conservation and regulatory efforts for a group of marine species increasingly at risk.

“The DOF takes the findings seriously and appreciates the continued collaboration with WWF and TRAFFIC in enhancing information transparency, public awareness, and understanding of the need to protect species vulnerable to exploitation.

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“The department is currently reviewing its management approach, including strengthening monitoring operations, reviewing policies, and reinforcing enforcement mechanisms at the field level to ensure more effective action,” he said in a statement today.

TRAFFIC Southeast Asia Program Manager Serene Chng recently said that the study titled “From Sea to Screen: Malaysia's Online Shark and Ray Trade” found that at least 5.25 million kg of products were traded between October and December 2022.

From a domestic legal standpoint, Adnan said several shark and ray species are protected under the Fisheries Act 1985 and the Fisheries (Control of Endangered Species of Fish) Regulations 1999, which regulate the taking, landing, possession, sale, and trade of endangered species.

The protected species include the Great Hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran), Scalloped Hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini), Smooth Hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena), Oceanic Whitetip Shark (Carcharhinus longimanus), and manta rays such as the Giant Manta Ray (Mobula birostris) and Reef Manta Ray (Mobula alfredi).

“Sharks and rays are apex predators crucial to the balance of marine ecosystems, and the DOF is committed to ensuring that the trade and landing of endangered species are strictly controlled, with integrity and in accordance with international standards and national legislation,” Adnan said.

Malaysia, as a State Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), has the responsibility to regulate international trade in endangered species, including sharks and rays.

According to Adnan, the DOF ensures compliance with CITES permits, conducts species identity checks, and works closely with enforcement agencies at the country’s entry points, based on scientific data and international standards, with this role being reinforced through periodic reviews and enhanced enforcement capacity.

“The DOF will continue to strengthen integrated actions through improved monitoring systems, enhanced capacity of relevant agencies, reinforced public education, and the provision of comprehensive scientific data.

“These measures reflect the department’s commitment to ensuring that the country’s fisheries resources remain sustainable, well-managed, and preserved for the well-being of future generations,” he said.

-- BERNAMA