Biology and distribution patterns of bamboo sharks

Bamboo Shark

(Chiloscyllium indicum)

IUCN 级别

LC 无危

NT 近危

EX 灭绝

The challenge

Getting to know the sharks in our waters

Singapore’s coastal waters are home to a number of sharks and rays. But our knowledge of Singapore’s wild marine fish communities is limited and we know very little about the biology and ecology of many locally occurring species. Without proper information on their population structures, how they use their marine environments and what they need in their habitats, it’s hard to gauge the conservation status of most of these fish species. Increasingly, these species are threatened globally by unsustainable fishing practices and habitat loss. Singapore’s bamboo sharks are classified as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN, but as degradation and fishing pressure continues on our coasts, these species may soon be pushed towards being classified as “Vulnerable”.

The goal

A conservation strategy to protect the bamboo sharks of Singapore

We support Neil Hutchinson for this project. The team has identified that while most studies done in Singapore can tell us about the taxonomy and presence of fish species in our territorial waters, they don’t tell us much about current populations, movements and habitat use by sharks around Singapore. By using a range of techniques that include tagging and diet analysis, the team hopes to raise public awareness about the status of Singapore’s resident shark species. With a baseline population data, they will also be able to use acoustic tracking to study the movement patterns and habitat use around Singapore. Armed with this knowledge, the team hopes to develop an effective conservation strategy to manage and protect the bamboo shark populations of Singapore.

Our role

Navigating our coastal waters to better understand bamboo shark movements

We support the team to hire boats to navigate our coastal waters and identify sharks in Singapore. Additionally, we have provided the team with vital equipment needed to capture and handle sharks in a non-stressful manner, so that they can be tagged and released after samples are collected to better understand their biology and dietary habits.

The impact

The first study on the species

With so little information readily available on Singapore’s shark species and fisheries, this project will raise their profile and give us detailed biological knowledge of bamboo shark species. With little global data on the bamboo shark the study will be the first of its kind on the Chiloscyllium indicum. While we know that the bamboo shark has been classified as “near threatened” by the IUCN, new knowledge may enable conservationists to clarify their conservation status through the IUCN Shark Specialist Group and lead to the development of a cohesive conservation and management plan for the sharks of Singapore.