In the Aceh-Weh Seascape, in Sumatra, Indonesia, often greater than 50 percent of the local fish catch consists of sharks and rays. WCS has begun to document socio-economic conditions, traditional knowledge and species-gear interactions of the artisanal fishery. Sharks are often caught in small boats using long lines known as rawai, but in some cases fishers also use speargun with hookah, hook and line and gillnets. The information collected will be disseminated widely and will be used to promote improvements in the conservation and protection status of shark populations through local customary laws that protect marine species and habitats.