Training shark taggers to build public trust in Thai conservation research
Sharks have declined by 91% over the course of 20 years in Thai waters. There are laws in place but enforcement is weak, and mistrust in government research efforts is high. Combating the paucity of information is also challenging; there are few experts in shark telemetry and this lack of expertise, combined with public opposition to tagging, makes it difficult to conduct important shark conservation research. Metavee wants to rebuild public trust by introducing expert telemetry training for government agencies, marine veterinarians and university lecturers. The goal is to regain public trust so that effective research can inform shark protection.
Metavee Chuangcharoendee
I am an early-career Thai marine biologist with a deep passion for shark conservation. I earned my degree in marine biology and ecology from James Cook University in Australia, where I also volunteered with the Global FinPrint project. My previous role at the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources involved working in the Marine Protected Area Management Sub-division, focusing on marine protected areas and marine spatial planning. In addition, I played a key role in assessing the Ocean Health Index for Thailand, which required close collaboration with various departments due to the comprehensive nature of the data needed....
Government collaboration in 'Tagging and Research Techniques' workshop for Sharks and Rays in Thailand
Our aim is to provide know-how, regain trust and rebuild confidence in conducting telemetry research to improve the understanding of biological and ecological knowledge about sharks, which is essential for shark conservation planning, enforcement and effective management.
A Department of Fisheries survey from 2003 to 2021 revealed a 91% decline in shark catches in Thai waters. Despite existing laws, enforcement is weak due to limited knowledge about sharks. In Thailand, most of what we know about sharks comes from diving tourism sightings and shark landing surveys by the Department of Fisheries. Without more comprehensive data, it is difficult to plan effective conservation strategies and guide decision-makers in protecting key areas.
Public mistrust has grown due to past incidents of dugong deaths caused by tagging equipment becoming entangled in nets, which has led to negative views on tagging. In addition, we face challenges in shark research because there is a lack of practical tagging techniques taught at universities and there are few experts in shark tracking technology (telemetry). This lack of expertise, combined with public opposition to tagging, makes it difficult to conduct important research that is critical for shark conservation.
Our projects, Thai Whale Shark, Maya Shark Watch and the Stegostoma tigrinum Recovery Project, collected data mostly from dive sites through data mining, social media, BRUVs and crowd sourcing. However, there is little information about sharks in areas not visited by divers, which means that those areas lack protection and management efforts.
To address these challenges, we propose a workshop where experts will train government agencies, marine veterinarians and university lecturers. The goal is to regain public trust, improve data collection in under-researched areas and build capacity for future professionals, all of which will lead to better shark protection and stronger support for both research and education efforts.
Government agencies and organisations involved in shark conservation will gain not only expertise in telemetry research, including the theory behind different tags and their pros and cons, but also hands-on tagging experience. They will also learn to analyse and interpret data from various tagging methods. This project aims:
- To rebuild public trust in government agencies and foster a better understanding of the importance of tagging and telemetry in marine wildlife research.
- To encourage collaboration among government agencies, organisations and the public to support shark conservation and research.