Shark carcasses found without fins and tails after illegal fishing activities in Indonesia


Numerous shark carcasses were brought ashore after illegal fishing activities occurred in the Raja Ampat Islands in Indonesia.

Footage captured on June 15 shows sea patrol officers encountering shark carcass washed ashore on a beach.

The hammerhead and reef shark species are considered to be endangered in the Raja Ampat area due to fisherman hunting them illegally.

Illegal fishing and the poaching of sharks often happens in the area of Raja Ampat, a popular tourist destination.

The sea patrol agency works together with locals to tackle these practices. "We get information from local residents when there is a suspicion against vessels fishing illegally," the agency's director, Mohliat Mayalibit, said.

"Poachers operate at night. They take the fins and the tail of the sharks and then leave the rest of the carcasses on the beach and throw them to the sea," he added.

Indonesia is one of the world's top exporters of shark fins to southeast Asian countries where shark fin soup is a luxury dish.