Protected predators: Poachers catch oceanic grey sharks in the waters of the Southeast Misool Marine Protected Area in Raja Ampat, West Papua, despite a local ban on shark hunting in the regency’s waters. (Courtesy of The Nature Conservancy/Purwanto)The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry is considering a plan to issue a decree banning shark and manta ray hunting, after a provincial administration in West Papua issued such a regulation to conserve the sea creatures.



Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sharif Cicip Sutardjo said on Tuesday that the Raja Ampat administration had taken a major leap in fighting shark hunting by issuing Regional Regulation (Perda) No. 9/2012 banning shark and manta ray hunting.



“I really hope that the actions of the Raja Ampat administration encourages other regions to follow suit, especially areas like East Nusa Tenggara [NTT] and W...