Mitigating Bycatch Of Endangered Shark And Ray Species

Mitigating Bycatch Of Endangered Shark And Ray Species Through Electronic Monitoring Cameras In Sarawak Malaysia.

The Marine Research Foundation (MRF) is a non-profit research and conservation agency based in Sabah, Malaysia. The Foundation aims to advance the understanding of marine ecosystems and their diverse flora and fauna, across Malaysia, and extends its efforts to Southeast Asia and various Indo-Pacific sites.

Trawl fisheries, which account for nearly 50% of Malaysia’s fish landings, significantly contribute to the high mortality rate of accidentally caught marine megafauna. To address these impacts in Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia’s top fishing states, MRF has been deploying electronic monitoring cameras on trawl vessels to pinpoint when and where these bycatch events occur. These cameras capture time- and GPS-stamped images, allowing precise identification of bycatch events.

The collected data are used to develop bycatch hotspot maps, informing fishery management strategies aimed at promoting sustainable fisheries and reduce bycatch of marine megafauna. Having successfully deployed cameras and impactful results in Sabah, we are now expanding to key fishing districts in Sarawak with funds from the Van Tienhoven Foundation. The data help produce species-specific distribution maps, aiding in the investigation of spatial and temporal trends of marine megafauna bycatch in trawl fisheries and guiding future conservation efforts, such as proposing time-area closures or gear restrictions to the Department of Fisheries Malaysia.