Date: Thu, 29 May, 1997
Update - Cetacean Slaughter in Manado Suluwesi, Indonesia

On 11 May Steve Morris (haysteve@pacific.net.sg) reported that two "high tech" wall / trap/ draw nets were installed in the pelagic migratory channel at Tangkoko, Manado area, NE Suluwesi, Indonesia. Two set of nets were about 3 km apart 20-30 meters from the coastline of the Tangkoko Nature Reserve.

Sources indicate that between 27 March 1996 and 12 February 1997 catches included some 1,424 manta rays, 18 whale sharks, 312 other sharks, 4 minke whales, 326 dolphins, 577 pilot whales, 789 marlin, 84 turtles, and 9 dugong. The nets were completed March 1996, but the operations seem to be expanding very rapidly.

On 22 May Peter Rudolph (Rudolph.P@t-online.de), a biologist working on cetaceans in Indonesian waters, reported that, according to a dive master (Larry Smith), " the nets are located in and near Lembeh Strait, not in Manado Bay, and that these nets are set by Taiwanese. Bitung is one of the most important harbours in eastern Indonesia. It is one of the stops of the Taiwanese fishing fleet working in the Arafura and Banda Sea (this is the same fleet formerly working in northern Australian waters, with a very high bycatch)". "Bitung is also a very important military harbour. According to Indonesian fishermen, working on Taiwanese boats in the Banda Sea, most of the bycatch is not discarded, but stored and transported to Taiwan."

3 April video included the slaughter of a whaleshark. Please contact Morris for all documentation, including net descriptions, and the names of people, boats, companies, packing and shipping operations, and potential markets associated with this fishery. There is an urgent need to expand and substantiate all information.

There are various reports linking military and government authorities to this operation and enforcement of environmental regulations is very ineffectual. "By 15 May, eyewitnesses reported the disappearance of one of the Tankoko Trap Nets -- although the concrete pylons remain". This may or may not have been an early reaction to the publicity, but there is every certainty that the nets will be reinstalled or used elsewhere in the region.

Local government offices, such as the harbour master, Fisheries Department, Forestry Deptartment, Coast Guard, and the Bitung Police have all stated that they are unaware of any irregularities. The Indonesian government was one of the major co-sponsors of the 1995 United Nations conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, agreeing to all eleven Articles implemented. It is believed that the Central government in Jakarta has had little knowledge of the full extent of the actions of this fishery.

The Bitung operation is reported to have increased its fleet from one fiberglass skiff to include three much larger ships with crews of 15\20 men each, making trips two or three times a day to each net, some days working on 24 hour basis due to large catches. A second pier is being built to expand operations further. It is believed that many of these Taiwanese (and other) boats are connected directly or indirectly to the movement, distribution, and sale of the packed hauls, by-passing the normally required legal documentation, not registering the actual take, and not paying taxes or upholding quotas. It is believed that at least three more of these nets exist along the Suluwesi coastline, operated by the same company. There may be many others operated by other companies at different locations within Indonesia operating beyond the control and monitoring of proper authorities.

This message is an appeal to all concerned, for information regarding this Indonesian situation, first, with facts and contacts, and second, the potential of bringing this issue to CITES in a manner that will terminate this operation and strengthen fishing regulations and enforcement in the region. We appeal to all to contribute whatever knowledge, contacts, or suggestions that they can.

Cetacean Society International is acting only as a facilitator for the issue. We ask that any NGO with CITES or other appropriate affiliations consider joining in a coalition designed to stop this situation.

William W. Rossiter, President, Cetacean Society International, 71322.1637@compuserve.com

Steve Morris haysteve@pacific.net.sg



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