Catch composition and reproductive biology of whaler sharks (Carcharhiniformes: Carcharhinidae) caught by fisheries in Indonesia

Abstract

The first detailed information on the biological aspects of members of the economically important shark family Carcharhinidae in Indonesian waters is given. Carcharhinids dominated the landings of sharks at sites visited, comprising almost 60% of the total biomass of all sharks recorded, over an intensive 5 year sampling period. A total of 26 species of carcharhinids, representing half of the species in the Carcharhinidae, were recorded. The most abundant species, in terms of numbers recorded, were Scoliodon laticaudus and Carcharhinus falciformis, while the most abundant in terms of biomass were Prionace glauca, C. falciformis and Carcharhinus obscurus. Biological data are presented for 22 of the 26 species. The total length at which males attain maturity (L50) was determined for 10 species. The biological aspects of a number of species, most notably Carcharhinus sorrah and Loxodon macrorhinus, were found to differ from those recorded in the literature for other regions.