1 Ton Bobot Whale Shark Buried 10 Meters From Location Found On Banjar Beach Bali

The KKP buried a whale shark weighing about one ton that was stranded dead on the Banjar Yeh Kuning Coast, Jembrana, Bali. (ANTARA/HO-KKP)

BALI - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) through the Denpasar Coastal and Marine Resources Management Center (BPSPL) buried a whale shark weighing about one ton which was stranded dead on the coast of Banjar Yeh Kuning Beach, Pekutatan Village, Pekutat District, Jembrana Regency, Bali. Director General of Marine Space Management, KKP Victor Gustaaf Manoppo said that extractive utilization of whale sharks, including the use of its parts of its body, is legally prohibited. "The whale is a marine biota that is fully protected by the state based on Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and its Ecosystems, Government Regulation Number 7 of 1999 concerning Plantation and Animal Types Preservation, as well as Decree of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Number 18 of 2013 concerning Stipulation of the Full Protection Status of Whale Sharks," Victor said in an official statement, Monday, October 2, confiscated by Antara. Meanwhile, the Head of BPSPL Denpasar Getreda Melsina Hehanussa explained that through the results of observations obtained information, stranded fish were male types of whale sharks or tiger whales (Rhincodon typus). "Ident identification shows a whale shark with a total length of 8.27 meters, a width of 4.1 meters and an estimated weight of less than one tonne and no injuries were found. Meanwhile, the location coordinates were stranded -8,436944, 144,8419996. The condition of the fish is also intact without punctures or strokes," he said.

The marine animals that are fully protected by law are found by fishermen dead in sand and sloping locations, so the handling method is carried out by burying them using heavy equipment. The burial activities were carried out 10 meters from the location where the carcass was found and involved the Jembrana Police Polairud, the local Regional Government and the Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) signed the Report on the Handling of the Damped Whale Shark No.BAP 3944/BPSPL.4/PRL.420/IX/2023. Until now the cause of death of this animal is being confirmed through laboratory test results by JAAN. Whale Hiu (Rhincodon typus) including the type of Appendix II Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and is included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) red list with endangered status (EN).