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Kyne & Simpfendorfer.. - Shark Specialist Group

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CASE STUDY 4. MALDIVES GULPER SHARK FISHERY<br />

Status: Complete collapse of the gulper shark fishery (targeted for liver oil) after only ~20<br />

years of exploitation.<br />

The exploitation of gulper shark (Centrophorus spp) in the Maldives commenced in 1980<br />

using multi-hook handlines (vertical longlines). <strong>Shark</strong>s were targeted for their livers, which<br />

yield a high-value oil (squalene) product that was exported to the Japanese market. Adam et<br />

al. (1998) identified three species of gulper shark from the Maldives, the Taiwan gulper shark<br />

Centrophorus niaukang, the leafscale gulper shark C. squamosus and the Mosaic gulper shark<br />

C. tessellatus. Centrophorus niaukang was reported to be the most common species taken in<br />

the liver oil fishery (Adam et al. 1998). However, the authors recognise the taxonomic<br />

problems associated with the genus and note that their identifications are somewhat tentative.<br />

Hence, the actual composition of the Maldivian Centrophorus fauna remains unresolved.<br />

Anderson and Ahmed (1993) surveyed shark fishing activities around the Maldives, reporting<br />

31 full-time and 274 part-time vessels, operating from 37 islands involved in the gulper shark<br />

fishery. There are no time-series data of catches available for the fishery (M.S. Adam, pers.<br />

comm.), only export figures for shark liver oil. Anderson and Ahmed (1993) reported export<br />

figures from 1980 to 1991, and a review of government-produced Basic Fisheries Statistics<br />

for the Maldives from 1995 to 2002 found that additional figures were available only for the<br />

years 1996, 1997, 2001 and 2002 (MOFA 1996, 1997, MOFAMR 2001, 2002). Gulper shark<br />

liver oil exports are shown in Figure 3.5. Exports peaked rapidly in 1982 (87400 litres) before<br />

showing a general downward trend until 1989. Exports then increased again in 1990 and 1991<br />

while the remaining data shows exports at very low levels up to 2002. This marked the<br />

effective end of the fishery due to stock collapse from overfishing of the resource (R.C.<br />

Anderson, pers. comm.).<br />

The Maldives Centrophorus fishery was short-lived, commencing in 1980 and closing just<br />

over 20 years later due to population depletion. The present status of the stock is unknown,<br />

but fishing for gulper sharks has ceased. The resource was probably fished beyond sustainable<br />

levels in its early years.<br />

100000<br />

<strong>Shark</strong> liver oil exports (litres)<br />

80000<br />

60000<br />

40000<br />

20000<br />

0<br />

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000<br />

Year<br />

Figure 3.5. Gulper shark (Centrophorus spp) liver oil exports from the Maldives from 1980<br />

to 2002. Data for 1980–1991 from Anderson and Ahmed (1993), data for 1996 from MOFA<br />

(1996), data for 1997 from MOFA (1997), data from 2001 from MOFAMR (2001) and data<br />

from 2002 from MOFAMR (2002). Data could not be sourced for intervening years.<br />

134

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