Evaluating stock status of shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) in southern Java and West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, using length-based approach

The high economic value and demand for shark fin have significantly increased the vulnerability of the shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810) population in the Indian Ocean, particularly in the southern region of Java and West Nusa Tenggara. This study utilized a length-based assessment method to evaluate the stock status of I. oxyrinchus. Over a span of eight years (2013–2021), data on length frequency and sex composition were collected. The length-based spawning potential ratio (SPR) was employed to investigate the stock status of the fishery. The findings revealed that I. oxyrinchus exhibited a large body size, with an asymptotic length estimated at 386.86 cm total length and a growth coefficient of 0.04/year . Females were more frequently captured than males, and evidence indicated a declining trend in the size of female sharks. A low SPR value of approximately 6% indicated the overfishing condition of mako shark. To ensure the sustainability of the shortfin mako shark population in the Indian Ocean, it is essential to develop effective management strategies through integrated cooperation among the government, fishers, traders, shark industries, and local communities.