Size distribution and population parameter of white-spotted wedgefish (Rhynchobatus Australiae Whitley, 1939) from the Eastern Indian Ocean, Indonesia

Abstract

White Spotted Wedgefish (Rhynchobatus australiae, Whitley, 1939) is one of member Elasmobrachii family and it has economic value because of its fins valuable food source. The objective of the research is to determine population parameter and size distribution of White Spotted Wedgefish (Rhynchobatus australiae) from the Eastern Indian Ocean Fishing Region in Indonesia (WPP 573). A total of 407 samples were recorded from bottom longline fisheries at Tanjung Luar, Lombok from March 2014 to December 2016 by a trained enumerator. The size of sharks White Spotted Wedgefish varied from 95 mm to 323 m total length (TL), with average size was 222 mm. Size distributions and sex ratio between females and males were significantly different. Analysis on its population status showed that this species was very susceptible to overfishing. This condition should be responded by the government through management actions for its fishery.