Every day, fishing boats return to Tanjung Luar Port in West Nusa Tenggara. Among the many catches brought ashore, silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis) are almost always part of the story. For many fishers, these sharks are more than just a catch. They have been an important source of livelihood for years.
But a question has begun to emerge: are silky sharks still as abundant as they once were?
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To find out, marine scientists, including researchers from YKAN, studied more than 33,000 silky sharks landed at Tanjung Luar between 2017 and 2023. By examining clues hidden in the sharks' body sizes, sex composition, and fishing patterns, they sought to understand the current status of this species.
Their findings revealed a story that deserves attention. Although silky sharks are still commonly caught, their abundance in the wild appears to be declining. Even more concerning, most of the sharks landed were juveniles that had not yet reached reproductive age. In other words, many are being removed from the population before they have a chance to produce the next generation.
The researchers also found that fishers now need to make more trips to maintain the same level of catch. On the surface, catches may appear stable. However, behind those numbers lies a warning sign: silky sharks are becoming harder to find.
Yet this is not a story about an ending. It is a story about opportunity. With the right management measures, such as protecting juvenile sharks, using more selective fishing gear, and carefully managing fishing seasons, silky shark populations may still have a chance to recover.
For centuries, the ocean has provided food, livelihoods, and countless benefits to people. Today, through the story of the silky shark, the ocean seems to be sending a message: protecting marine life today is an investment in sustainable oceans and thriving coastal communities tomorrow. Listening to that warning may be the first step toward ensuring that sharks, fishers, and the sea can continue to share the same story for generations to come.
To learn more about the research and its findings, read the full journal article here.
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