When one thinks of sharks, this image often comes to mind. While the great white shark is certainly the best known shark, there are many types of shark in the ocean. Not all are notoriously aggressive like the great white shark. In this blog I would like to talk about thresher sharks.
Thresher sharks are not aggressive and are in fact very shy and tend to swim away when they see divers in the sea. Unlike great whites, they have a very innocent look to their faces and feed mainly on small fish. What makes the thresher shark unique is the way they hunt. Instead of attacking their prey head-on, they often use their whip-like tail to deliver a disabling blow to the small fish so that they can eat them at a leisurely pace later. They are solitary animals and can be found in warm temperate waters including Indonesia.
Currently, thresher sharks are considered an endangered species (Source Here). The main reason for this is overfishing. Thresher sharks are often captured for food and medicine and this is compounded by the fact that they reproduce slowly.
One spot in Indonesia known for thresher shark fishing is Alor, East Nusa Tenggara. Many of the local fishermen depend on thresher shark fishing for their livelihoods. While locals understand that the thresher shark population in the area is declining, it’s not easy to convince fishermen to stop fishing for them when they have families to support back home. An organization is trying to find a solution to this conundrum, Thresher Shark Indonesia.
Thresher Shark Indonesia is a youth-led non-profit conservation organization that aims to protect the declining population of endangered pelagic thresher sharks. Since 2018, they have conducted various research, engagements and awareness initiatives for local communities to stop hunting the species by providing policy recommendations and alternative livelihoods for the communities that depend on them.
One method they are using is satellite tagging. By tagging thresher sharks, they can track the movement of the sharks so they can gather intelligence and protect them.
If you are interested and passionate about conservation, Thresher Shark Indonesia invites everyone to join their Conservation Experience. This program offers conservation and outdoor enthusiasts to experience Alor’s unique biodiversity and marine biota and ecosystem, understanding its fragility and participating in its direct conservation action.
The joining divers will work with our local Indonesian team to explore approaches to marine conservation and interact directly with the surrounding indigenous communities (both terrestrial and marine) who call this place home. Learn more about conservation project development and management, including the project cycle, budget, and resource allocation. Maybe even experience the thresher shark’s tagging business firsthand. Their program consists of:
- Marine conservation project design
- Thresher shark conservation
- Conservation of mangroves, algae and corals
- Community outreach
- Island Hopping (for long term projects)
- Fun diving
An excellent program to gain invaluable knowledge and hands-on experience on your scuba diving trip in Alor. If you are interested in learning more about the program, click here Conservation & Fun Dives or you can contact the Indonesea.id team directly Here learn more.
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