What is shark finning?

Shark finning is the practice of slicing off the shark's fins while the shark is still alive and throwing the rest of its body back into the ocean where it can take days to die what must be an agonising death. Some sharks starve to death, others are slowly eaten by other fish, and some drown, because sharks need to keep moving to force water through their gills for oxygen. Shark fins are used as the principal ingredient of shark fin soup, an Asian "delicacy". Demand for shark fin soup has rocketed in recent years due to the increased prosperity of China and other countries in the Far East. Shark fin soup, which can easily cost $100 a bowl, is often served at wedding celebrations so that the hosts can impress their guests with their affluence. Because there is such a high demand for shark fins, traders can make a lot of money from shark fin, but it is the restaurant owners who really "make a killing" in this foul trade.

Fishermen are only interested in the fins because shark meat is of low economical value and takes up too much space in the hold. It also contains urea, which turns to ammonia once the shark has died and contaminates other fish.

Shark fin itself is tasteless, it just provides a gelatinous bulk for the soup which is flavoured with chicken or other stock. Many people, especially the consumers, are unaware of the sufferring that finning causes.

What effect has finning had on shark populations?

To put it bluntly, shark populations have been decimated. Globally. Tens of millions of sharks are slaughtered every year to satisfy the demand for shark fin soup; at least 8,000 tonnes of shark fins are shipped to restaurants around the world. Fishermen report that sharks are getting smaller because they are not being given time to mature. Shark populations take a long time to recover as they can take over seven years to reach maturity and they only raise one or two pups a year. Twenty species of sharks are listed as endangered by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). In a few years many species of shark could become extinct if action is not taken immediately. Populations of many shark species have fallen by over 90%. Since 1972 the number of blacktip sharks has fallen by 93%, tiger sharks by 97% and bull sharks, dusky sharks and smooth hammerheads by 99%.

What will happen to the oceans of sharks become extinct?

The consequences of the decline in shark populations on ocean life are immense. The large shark species are "apex" predators, they are ecological stablisers, once they are gone, all hell will break loose. For example along the US East Coast where large sharks such as black tip and tiger sharks have been virtually elimated, there have been declines in shellfish numbers and a reduction in water quality (shellfish filter sea water). Populations of small sharks, rays and skates have increased rapidly, consuming shellfish at an unsustainable rate. If you remove apex predators from an ecosystem the result is the same as removing the foundations from a building - total collapse.

Ancaman Penyu Jantan

PERUBAHAN IKLIM DAN PEMBANGUNAN ANCAM POPULASI PENYU JANTAN

Selasa, 18 Agustus 2009 | 12:51 WIB
Laporan wartawan KOMPAS Ayu Sulistyowati

DENPASAR, KOMPAS.com — Berdasarkan hasil penelitian penyu dari Universitas Udayana Bali, penyu betina menguasai lebih dari separuh populasi penyu di habitat Jawa Timur, Papua, dan Sunda Kecil. Ini menjadikan ancaman bagi keseimbangan populasi penyu.

Menyusutnya jumlah penyu jan tan ini karena perubahan iklim dengan suhu yang semakin panas dan pembangunan yang kurang terkontrol di sekitar pesisir pantai. Sementara keberhasilan penetasan telur penyu menjadi jantan bergantung kepada suhu udara di dalam pasir pantai yang tidak lebih dari 28 derajat celsius hingga 29 derajat celsius dan berada di bawah pepohonan sekitar pantai.

"Manusianya untuk memperbaiki alam dan habitat penyu ini perlu terus ditumbuhkan. Karena, tidak mudah meremajakan pantai yang rusak sehingga penyu-penyu dapat bertelur dan menetas dengan baik," kata Koordinator Marine Turtle Training dan Research Centre Universitas Udayana drh IB Windia Adnyana PHd, di Denpasar.

Ia menambahkan, tingkat keberhasilan penetasan penyu turun dari 90 persen menjadi 70 persen setiap tahunnya sejak 10 tahun terakhir. Misalnya di Kepala Burung (Papua), keberhasilan penetasan telur mulai berkurang dari 500 ekor per tahun.

Menurut Windia, memperbaiki pantai akibat abrasi atau erosi dengan menambahkan pasir dari pantai lain tidak selamanya baik untuk pengembangbiakan penyu. "Termasuk konservasi penyu pun tidak semuanya positif jika tidak dibarengi dengan memperbaiki alam aslinya seperti devegetasi. Pepohonan sekitar pantai untuk penyu berlindung," ujarnya.

Penelitian dilakukan sejak Oktober 2008 hingga sekarang bekerja sama dengan WWF. Dalam penelitian tersebut, peneliti Udayana mengumpulkan sekitar 400 ekor sampel penyu yang diambil air liur, cukilan kulit, dan darah untuk tes genetika. Dana yang dihabiskan sekitar Rp 1,5 miliar.

Dalam penelitian tersebut juga menemukan adanya perbedaan genetika penyu dari satu daerah dengan daerah lainnya, baik penyu lekang (Lepidochelys oliviacea ), penyu hijau (Chelonia mydas), dan penyu belimbing (Dermochelys coriacea). Meski penyu menyukai datang ke pantai lainnya, ia tetap bertelur di tempat asal mereka.

Windia menjelaskan selama ini penyu dianggap memiliki satu genetika sama dan bisa bertelur di mana saja. Pada penelitian tersebut terungkap, penyu memiliki genetika berbeda dan ditemukan untuk kawasan Jawa Timur, Sunda Kecil, dan Papua terdapat tiga kelompok.

Tiga kelompok genetika penyu tersebut adalah kelompok pertama di Pantai Kepala Burung (Papua) dan Laut Arafuru. Kelompok kedua terbagi menjadi dua, yaitu Jawa Timur-Bali-Jawa Tengah (Cilacap), dan Jawa Timur-Australia Barat. Kelompok ketiga berada di Kalimantan Timur hingga Laut Sulu.

Ia berharap penelitian ini dapat bermanfaat untuk penelitian selanjutnya. "Kami ingin masyarakat luas mengerti dan paham mengenai penyu agar tidak melakukan hal yang percuma. Pelestarian penyu tidak hanya sebatas tidak memakan dan mencuri telur atau dagingnya saja. Habitat dan lingkungannya yang rusak juga perlu diperbaiki," tegas Windia.

Di Pulau Dewata, masyarakat mulai tidak mengonsumsi daging penyu khususnya pada upacara adat atau keagamaan setelah dilarang oleh pemerintah. Kompyang Rata, pedagang sate lilit di Denpasar, mengaku kesulitan mendapatkan daging penyu kembali.

DOLPHIN

Dolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in seventeen genera. They vary in size from 1.2 m (4 ft) and 40 kg (90 lb) (Maui's Dolphin), up to 9.5 m (30 ft) and 10 tonnes (9.8 LT; 11 ST) (the Orca or Killer Whale). They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating fish and squid. The family Delphinidae is the largest in the Cetacean order, and relatively recent: dolphins evolved about ten million years ago, during the Miocene. Dolphins are among the most intelligent animals and their often friendly appearance and seemingly playful attitude have made them popular in human culture.

Dolphins, along with whales and porpoises, are descendants of terrestrial mammals, most likely of the Artiodactyl order. The ancestors of the modern day dolphins entered the water roughly fifty million years ago, in the Eocene epoch.Hind Limb Buds on Dolphins. An embryo of a Spotted Dolphin in the fifth week of development. The hind limbs are present as small bumps (hind limb buds) near the base of the tail. The pin is approximately 2.5 cm (1.0 in) long.Modern dolphin skeletons have two small, rod-shaped pelvic bones thought to be vestigial hind limbs. In October 2006 an unusual Bottlenose Dolphin was captured in Japan; it had small fins on each side of its genital slit which scientists believe to be a more pronounced development of these vestigial hind limbs.[8]
Dolphins have a streamlined fusiform body, adapted for fast swimming. The tail fin, called the fluke, is used for propulsion, while the pectoral fins together with the entire tail section provide directional control. The dorsal fin, in those species that have one, provides stability while swimming. he head contains the melon, a round organ used for echolocation. In many species, elongated jaws form a distinct beak; species such as the Bottlenose have a curved mouth which looks like a fixed smile. Some species have up to 250 teeth. Dolphins breathe through a blowhole on top of their head. The trachea is anterior to the brain. The dolphin brain is large and highly complex and is different in structure from that of most land mammals.
Unlike most mammals, dolphins do not have hair, except for a few hairs around the tip of their rostrum which they lose shortly before or after birth.[9] The only exception to this is the Boto river dolphin, which has persistent small hairs on the rostrum.[10]Dolphin’s reproductive organs are located on the underside of the body. Males have two slits, one concealing the penis and one further behind for the anus. The female has one genital slit, housing the vagina and the anus. A mammary slit is positioned on either side of the female's genital slit.
Most dolphins have acute eyesight, both in and out of the water, and they can hear frequencies ten times or more above the upper limit of adult human hearing.[11] Though they have a small ear opening on each side of their head, it is believed that hearing underwater is also if not exclusively done with the lower jaw, which conducts sound to the middle ear via a fat-filled cavity in the lower jaw bone. Hearing is also used for echolocation, which all dolphins have. It is believed that dolphin teeth are arranged work as an antenna to receive incoming sound and to pinpoint the exact location of an object.[12] The dolphin's sense of touch is also well-developed, with free nerve endings densely packed in the skin, especially around the snout, pectoral fins and genital area. However, dolphins lack an olfactory nerve and lobes and thus are believed to have no sense of smell.[13] They do have a sense of taste and show preferences for certain kinds of fish. Since dolphins spend most of their time below the surface, tasting the water could function like smelling, in that substances in the water can signal the presence of objects that are not in the dolphin’s mouth.
Though most dolphins do not have hair, they do have hair follicles that may perform some sensory function.[14] The small hairs on the rostrum of the Boto river dolphin are believed to function as a tactile sense possibly to compensate for the Boto's poor eyesight.[15]
Dolphins are often regarded as one of Earth's most intelligent animals, though it is hard to say just how intelligent. Comparing species' relative intelligence is complicated by differences in sensory apparatus, response modes, and nature of cognition. Furthermore, the difficulty and expense of experimental work with large aquatic animals has so far prevented some tests and limited sample size and rigor in others. Compared to many other species however, dolphin behavior has been studied extensively, both in captivity and in the wild. See cetacean intelligence for more details.
Dolphins are social, living in pods of up to a dozen individuals. In places with a high abundance of food, pods can merge temporarily, forming a superpod; such groupings may exceed 1,000 dolphins. Individuals communicate using a variety of clicks, whistles and other vocalizations. They make ultrasonic sounds for echolocation. Membership in pods is not rigid; interchange is common. However, dolphins can establish strong social bonds. Dolphins will stay with injured or ill individuals, even helping them to breathe by bringing them to the surface if needed.[16] This altruism does not appear to be limited to their own species however. The dolphin Moko in New Zealand has been observed guiding a female Pygmy Sperm Whale together with her calf out of shallow water where they had stranded several times.[17] They have also been seen protecting swimmers from sharks by swimming circles around the swimmers[18][19] or charging the sharks to make them go away.[citation needed]
Dolphins also display culture, something long believed to be unique to humans (and possibly other primate species). In May 2005, a discovery in Australia found Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) teaching their young to use tools. They cover their snouts with sponges to protect them while foraging. This knowledge is mostly transferred by mothers to daughters, unlike simian primates, where knowledge is generally passed on to both sexes. Using sponges as mouth protection is a learned behavior.[20] Another learned behavior was discovered among river dolphins in Brazil, where some male dolphins use weeds and sticks as part of a sexual display.[21]
Dolphins engage in acts of aggression towards each other. The older a male dolphin is, the more likely his body is to be covered with bite scars. Male dolphins engage in such acts of aggression apparently for the same reasons as humans: disputes between companions and competition for females. Acts of aggression can become so intense that targeted dolphins sometimes go into exile as a result of losing a fight.
Male Bottlenose Dolphins have been known to engage in infanticide. Dolphins have also been known to kill porpoises for reasons which are not fully understood, as porpoises generally do not share the same diet as dolphins and are therefore not competitors for food supplies.[22]
Reproduction and sexuality
Dolphin copulation happens belly to belly and though many species engage in lengthy foreplay, the actual act is usually brief, but may be repeated several times within a short timespan. The gestation period varies per species; for the small Tucuxi dolphin, this period is around 11 to 12 months, while for the Orca the gestation period is around 17 months. They usually become sexually active at a young age, even before reaching sexual maturity. The age of sexual maturity varies by species and gender.
Dolphins are known to have sex for reasons other than reproduction, sometimes also engaging in homosexual behavior.[23] Various species sometimes engage in sexual behavior including copulation with other dolphin species.[23] Sexual encounters may be violent, with male dolphins sometimes showing aggressive behavior towards both females and other males.[23][24] Occasionally, dolphins behave sexually towards other animals, including humans.[25]
Feeding
Various methods of feeding exist among and within species, some apparently exclusive to a single population. Fish and squid are the main food, but the False Killer Whale and the Killer Whale also feed on other marine mammals.
One common feeding method is herding, where a pod squeezes a school of fish into a small volume, known as a bait ball. Individual members then take turns plowing through the ball, feeding on the terrified fish. Coralling is a method where dolphins chase fish into shallow water to more easily catch them. In South Carolina, the Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin takes this further with strand feeding, driving prey onto mud banks for easy access.[26] In some places, Orcas come to the beach to capture sea lions. Some species also whack fish with their fluke, stunning them and sometimes knocking them out of the water.
Reports of cooperative human-dolphin fishing date back to the ancient Roman author and natural philosopher Pliny the Elder.[27] A modern human-dolphin partnership currently operates in Laguna, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Here, dolphins drive fish towards fishermen waiting along the shore and signal the men to cast their nets. The dolphins’ reward is the fish that escape the nets.[28][29]
Threats
Natural threats
Except for humans (discussed below), dolphins have few natural enemies. Some species or specific populations have none, making them apex predators. For most smaller species, only a few larger species of shark such as the bull shark, dusky shark, tiger shark and great white shark are a potential risk, especially for calves. Some of the larger dolphin species such as Orcas may also prey on some of the smaller species, but this seems rare. Dolphins also suffer from a wide variety of diseases and parasites.[citation needed]
Human threats
See also: Dolphin drive hunting


Dead Atlantic White-Sided Dolphins in Hvalba on the Faroe Islands, killed in a drive hunt.
Some dolphin species face an uncertain future, especially some of the river dolphin species such as the Amazon River Dolphin, and the Ganges and Yangtze River Dolphin, which are critically or seriously endangered. A 2006 survey found no individuals of the Yangtze River Dolphin, which now appears to be functionally extinct.[37]
Environmental contamination of oceans, seas, and rivers is a concern. Pesticides, heavy metals, plastics, and other industrial and agricultural pollutants which do not disintegrate rapidly in the environment reduce dolphin populations, and cause tissue buildup of high levels of contaminants. Injuries or deaths due to collisions with boats, especially their propellers, are also common.
Various fishing methods, most notably purse seine fishing for tuna and the use of drift and gill nets, unintentionally kill many dolphins.[38] Accidental by-catch in gill nets and incidental captures in antipredator nets that protect marine fish farms are common and pose a risk for mainly local dolphin populations.[39][40] In some parts of the world such as Taiji in Japan and the Faroe Islands, dolphins are traditionally considered as food, and killed in harpoon or drive hunts.
Dolphin safe labels attempt to reassure consumers that fish and other marine products have been caught in a dolphin-friendly way.
Loud underwater noises, for example resulting from naval sonar use, live firing exercises or certain offshore construction projects such as wind farms may be harmful to dolphins, increasing stress, damaging hearing and causing decompression sickness by forcing them to surface too quickly to escape the noise.[41][42]

References
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Fishermen Attack Amazon Dolphins

Fishermen have been attacking and killing freshwater dolphins in Brazil’s Amazon River Basin, seriously threatening conservation efforts of two species. Having just seen the documentary The Cove, the disturbing images of viciously slaughtered dolphins is burned into my brain, and I really hope steps can be taken to end these unnecessary killings as well. Apparently the fishermen are concerned that the dolphins are stealing their fish and damaging their gear, and have taken to stabbing them with machetes and harpoons.

There are also powerful cultural taboos in the region that suggest the animals bring bad luck, which may be part of the fishermen’s motivation. Researchers from the Mamirauá Institute for Sustainable Development in Tefe, Brazil, recovered 18 dead dolphins, 6 of the boto species and 12 belonging to the tucuxi species, during a recent survey of mortality rates. Somewhat encouragingly they reported that none of the dolphins body parts were missing, which would indicate that they were being harvested for charms or bait, as is sometimes the case in Brazil and Columbia. While this may mean that not as many dolphins will be killed, the deaths still pose a serious threat to the two species. The researchers say that one key to preventing the dolphin slaughters is to establish environmental education programs for local children to help dispel negative attitudes about dolphins, and teach the importance of protecting the species.

Posted by Danny Jensen on August 5, 2009 at 5:17 pm

Penelitian Ikan Purba Coelacanth Dilanjutkan

Selasa, 9 Juni 2009 | 09:20 WIB




JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Penelitian ikan fosil purba coelacanth di perairan Manado, Sulawesi Utara, tahun 2009 ini direncanakan dilaksanakan pada bulan Juli. Tim dari Fukushima Aquamarine Jepang, Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia, dan Universitas Sam Ratulangi, Manado, akan bergabung.

”Kami sedang mengurus kedatangan peralatan, termasuk wahana bawah laut tanpa awak,” kata Direktur Sumber Daya Laut Pusat Penelitian Oseanografi LIPI Augy Syahailatua di Jakarta, Senin (8/6). Rencananya, penelitian itu akan difokuskan di kawasan perairan Manado tua, lokasi penemuan coelacanth oleh nelayan dua tahun lalu.

Penelitian bersama tersebut merupakan penelitian rutin tahunan. Tahun 2008, dari puluhan jam penyelaman selama dua pekan, tak satu pun ikan purba tertangkap gambar melalui wahana khusus.

Tahun 2007, dari 92 kali pengoperasian wahana bawah laut tanpa awak (remotely operated vehicle) selama 52 jam 55 menit, hanya sekali perjumpaan di perairan Malalayang, Manado, selama 32 menit di kedalaman hampir 200 meter.

Pihak Aquamarine Fukushima, Jepang, mengakui, mereka sangat berminat mengetahui seluk-beluk ikan fosil purba, mulai dari karakter habitat hingga perilakunya. Karena itu, mereka rutin mengadakan ekspedisi selam dalam atau seminar mengenai coelacanth.

Peneliti ikan Pusat Penelitian Biologi LIPI, Agus H Tjakrawidaja, mengatakan, Jepang sangat berminat mengoleksi ikan fosil purba yang hanya hidup di perairan Sulawesi Utara, Indonesia, dan pesisir barat Afrika itu.

Bahkan, pernah ada upaya dari Jepang untuk memiliki spesimen basah ikan purba, yang kini dikoleksi di Puslit Biologi, LIPI. Namun, upaya itu gagal karena ada keberatan dari peneliti.

Tabir evolusi

Ketertarikan dunia terhadap coelacanth di antaranya karena misteri evolusinya. Para ahli yakin coelacanth tidak berevolusi selama ratusan juta tahun.

Hal itu pula yang membuat Aquamarine Fukushima tertarik mengoleksinya, baik hidup maupun mati. Agus mengakui, banyak hal yang belum diketahui mengenai ikan tersebut.

Popularitas ikan fosil purba itu melonjak tahun 1998 ketika pasangan peneliti dari AS menjumpai coelacanth di pasar ikan Manado. Informasi itu segera menyebar ke seluruh dunia.

Menurut Augy, karakteristik bawah laut Sulawesi Tengah (Tolitoli) hingga Biak sangat cocok dengan coelacanth. Namun, data ilmiah masih minim.

GSA