By : Vinni Nurizky (Bycatch and Conservation Assistant)

The business sector in the shark trade chain in Indonesia plays an important role in fulfilling the demand for shark consumption. Fishermen will not stop catching sharks either intentionally or unintentionally, if there are still companies that receive the catch until it finally reaches consumers after being sold through the domestic or export market.

WWF-Indonesia has been campaigning through the hashtag #SOSharks on social media since 2013. To date, 14 out of 24 restaurants in Jakarta that serve shark have stopped serving dishes made from the species. This success is not only the hard work of WWF-Indonesia, but also the participation of social media users and shark food lovers who decided to stop consuming it.

As a follow-up to the campaign, in 2017 WWF-Indonesia again raised the #SOSharks campaign and targeted the hotel, restaurant and cargo trade sectors that have internal company policies regarding the rejection of sharks and their derivative products in business through #SOSharks Campaign Partners.

Bandar Djakarta Group restaurant as one of the largest seafood restaurants in Indonesia last Saturday, May 12, 2018 has completed a series of events in declaring its commitment to the public that their business is shark-free. Through their self-initiated #SaveOurSharks campaign program, Bandar Djakarta is contributing to shark sustainability through the sale of a special menu created for this campaign and valid in all of their branches, located in Ancol, Bekasi, Pluit, and Alam Sutera.

According to Shandra Januar, Business Development Manager of Bandar Djakarta, the restaurant based in Taman Impian Jaya Ancol has been selling shark menu since 2001 until 2014, even keeping some live sharks as display to beautify the restaurant. However, it turned out that shark stocks from suppliers and fish auctions were decreasing every year, and the number of sales was not significant. After deciding to stop selling, Bandar Djakarta Restaurant understands that the role of sharks in nature is very important, especially to the number of fish populations and other marine life. As a seafood restaurant, this is a concern for Bandar Djakarta because it can affect the sustainability of their business.

WWF-Indonesia appreciates Bandar Djakarta's commitment, for pioneering the real action of shark conservation from its industry. Besides collecting donations for shark conservation practices in the wild, Bandar Djakarta also educates its loyal customers by presenting Dwi Ariyogagautama, Bycatch and Sharks Conservation Program Coordinator of WWF-Indonesia in an event entitled "Sharks, in the Sea or in the Bowl?". This event was held at all Bandar Djakarta branches, where Yoga, as he is affectionately known, conveyed the current status of sharks in Indonesia and the role of entrepreneurs in the global shark trade and in Indonesia.

"We really appreciate Bandar Djakarta Group's commitment, and hope that it can be emulated by other businesses. Because, with increased awareness on the part of entrepreneurs and business people, we can break the shark trade chain which is still the main challenge for shark sustainability in Indonesia. In addition, as consumers we must also choose not to consume sharks, "explained Yoga.

Until 2014, Indonesia was still the largest shark producer in the world, contributing 16.8 percent of the world's total catch. By not consuming sharks, and rejecting shark products in business, we are closing one of the doors to shark trade and utilization.

[See also: Statement of Bandar Djakarta Group]