The video above was recently posted by YouTube user shawkvanray and was apparently shot for WildAid. The video follows Pete Knights as he investigates Indonesia’s dwindling shark populations as a result of overfishing.
As the video illustrates, while the reefs appear to be healthy sharks are few and far between in the area, and larger sharks are almost non-existent. With the shark market drying up, focus is being shifted toward harvesting some of the larger reef fish, as fishermen are forced to move down the food chain.
In related news, WildAid reports that Raja Ampat’s Misool Eco Resort recently expanded its Marine Conservation Area to cover nearly 468 square miles. The newly expanded conservation area prohibits the killing, capturing, and removal of any wildlife.