Rafid Shidqi

Rafid Shidqi is a PhD student at Duke University and the co-founder of Thresher Shark Indonesia—a non-profit organization that has been using acoustic and satellite tagging to study the declining population of thresher sharks since 2018. In this interview, we discuss the status of pelagic thresher sharks in the Alor Marine Protected Area, as well as the importance of working with local communities to help address conservation issues.

How did you first become interested in shark and ray conservation?

My involvement with shark and ray conservation began during my undergraduate studies in Indonesia, when I had an opportunity to participate in an internship that focused on transitioning communities in Lamakera that were dependent on manta ray fishing to alternative livelihoods. This experience helped me to see the role that marine biology could play in addressing socio-economic conflicts. Since then, my goal has been to understand how we can combine multidisciplinary perspectives about the issue of declining shark and ray populations to help inform policies that could not only benefit these species, but communities who depend on them. 

What questions are you trying to answer with your current research?

My research is focused on pelagic thresher sharks within the Alor Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Indonesia. Using satellite and acoustic telemetry, we aim to address three questions: Are the sharks resident within the MPA? Are there any seasonal movement patterns? Is there any connectivity with neighbouring MPAs outside of Alor? 

Why is this research important?

In Alor, thresher sharks are fished by local communities and conservation issues have existed for many decades. The data we are collecting will be crucial to determining the best management practices for the species and filling ecological knowledge gaps for the MPA. This work represents Indonesia’s first satellite and acoustic study of pelagic thresher sharks.  

What is the most significant finding to date?

Thresher sharks were found in four areas within the MPA. Two sites were continually visited by at least five tagged sharks, all female, throughout the six-month study period. Both sites are close to a known hotspot for shark fishers, indicating that these areas may be ecologically important for the species. Outside of the MPA, satellite tagging revealed thresher sharks accessing different regions in Indonesia with a high degree of pelagic fishing, increasing the risk of bycatch. 

How is the surrounding community involved in the project?

Working with local communities can be difficult, especially when the species of concern is their main livelihood. We have to make them understand why the research is important. In Alor, people have a unique technique that is specifically used for fishing thresher sharks. By sharing their knowledge and skills with us, local communities have helped to get more sharks tagged.

What has been the response to your work so far?

Many people in Alor want to be part of our transition initiatives and we are starting to see a shift to different types of fisheries and livelihoods within local communities. 

How does OTN support your project?

OTN provided training on data analysis and helped me connect with people who have undertaken similar research in the field. In 2022, I was able to showcase my work with other researchers from around the world at OTN’s symposium in Halifax, N.S., which provided an avenue for new knowledge and connections.