By: Euis Zulfiaty (Bycatch and Sharks Conservation Program Assistant)

"Here, Ma'am, I took a photo of two mengiwang stuck, located in Takat Metela near Sebayur," Mr. Sadam showed me his handphone gallery. There, the mengiwang,refers to a one-and-a-half-meter black tip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus). Two of these mengiwang were caught by a fishing line on the lip.

That day (1/4/17), Mr. Sadam, a fisherman from Ujung Village, Labuan Bajo, landed his catch of 2 mackerel and 1 bengkolo or known as giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis). But this mengiwang story, he tells me with pride.

The shark appeared to be in good health and was responding very actively. "This pengiwang is alive and can be saved, so it's best to let it go," he continues, making me smile. We sit on the dock, next to the ketinting, the small wooden canoe he uses for fishing.

Mr. Sadam tells me that he pulled the tonda fishing line reeled in his hand, then positioned the shark next to the ketinting. The shark was quite large and could not be lifted up, so Mr. Sadam immediately cut the string as close as possible to the lips of the blacktip shark. The goal was that when the shark returned to free swimming, it would not be wrapped around the string.

"I don't want to land mengiwang, while he is dangerous to have teeth, now I know that it has benefits for the ocean," he added in a typical Makassarese accent mixed with Manggarai.

For the Bugis and Makassarese, all types of sharks are called by the local name mengiwang, and all types of mengiwang have a big role for the ecosystem. This is because sharks only eat sick fish, and then free healthy fish from contracting the disease. Thus, other healthy fish can still be utilized as catches by fishermen.

According to Mr. Sadam, releasing the shark means showing gratitude for the various types of marine products. How could it not be, bengkolo fish, tuna, marlin, mackerel - the number is still very abundant in the sea. Meanwhile, sharks are not as abundant as other target fish.

"Why land sharks if I can enjoy other marine products", he said.

This fishermen mentoring is still halfway done, but I am optimistic that there will be more fishermen like Mr. Sadam in Ujung Village, Labuan Bajo.