An Urgent Appeal to Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono
Indonesia is the world’s largest shark-fishing nation. While the world watches, millions of sharks and rays—including species on the absolute brink of extinction—are being killed to fuel the international fin trade.
Indonesia catches an average of 109,000 metric tons of shark per year, more than any other country in the world.
Despite the historic outcomes of CITES CoP20 in late 2025, where protections were drastically increased, the export of fins from protected species continues under the guise of “bycatch.” We are calling on the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) to move from “paper protection” to real, on-the-water enforcement.
The Crisis in Indonesian Waters
While Indonesia has committed to a “Blue Economy,” a massive loophole remains: the targeted fishing and retention of CITES-listed species. These animals are being wiped out faster than they can reproduce, threatening the entire marine ecosystem of the Coral Triangle.
Species on the Brink
We demand an immediate, total ban on the killing and export of these critically threatened species:
- Oceanic Whitetip Shark (Carcharhinus longimanus): Recently upgraded to CITES Appendix I. International commercial trade is now illegal. Indonesia must halt all landings immediately.
- Scalloped & Great Hammerhead Sharks (Sphyrna spp.): Their unique physiology makes them highly vulnerable to capture. They cannot survive current fishing pressures.
- White-spotted Guitarfish (Rhinobatos albomaculatus): Part of the “Rhino Ray” family, these are among the most threatened marine fish globally.
- Great Hill’s Wedgefish (Rhynchobatus djiddensis): Often targeted for their high-value “white fins,” these species are disappearing from Indonesian coastal waters.
- Silky Sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis): Massive numbers are still “incidentally” caught in tuna longlines and retained for the fin trade.
Our Demands to the Ministry
We urge Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono and the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) to:
- Enforce the Appendix I Ban: Immediately halt all domestic landings and international exports of Oceanic Whitetip Sharks and Manta Rays, as mandated by the newest CITES requirements.
- Zero Export Quotas: Implement a zero-export quota for all Guitarfish and Wedgefish species until regional populations show documented signs of recovery.
- Mandatory Release Policy: Require all commercial fishing vessels to release CITES-listed sharks and rays alive, with stiff penalties for “retention of bycatch.”
- Port-Side DNA Testing: Deploy rapid DNA identification tools at major export hubs like Tanjung Luar and Jakarta to prevent the “laundering” of protected fins into legal shipments.