Indonesia is the world’s largest exporter of sharks and rays. The industry is big business, creating jobs and a source of foreign exchange. Its footprint can be seen throughout Indonesia, from [intlink id=”286″ type=”post”]shops selling dried shark carcasses[/intlink], to [intlink id=”80″ type=”post”]restaurants selling shark fin soup.[/intlink]

Despite the scale of this industry and its importance for the economy, it remains unregulated in Indonesia. No catch quotas, no minimum sizes, and no export regulations.

But in the absence of government regulation and control, does the industry itself have an obligation to regulate itself, if only for its own self-interest.

Last weekend I visited the popular Ancol region in north Jakarta. Ancol is a recreational area around Jakarta’s seafront and marinas. Walking past a crowded seafood restaurant, I was shocked to see a 2 m aquarium containing five baby blacktip reef sharks.

It wasn’t clear whether these fish were on the menu, or simply a decoration. But as I took a closer look, I found more sharks that left no doubt in my mind.

At about 35 cm long, these sharks couldn’t have been more than a few months old. Certainly well below the 97 cm at which they reach sexual maturity.

How long will these stocks last, if individuals are removed before they have had a chance to replace themselves?

And what will happen to this restaurant and other businesses like it when the supply dries up?

There is no doubt in my mind that these sharks are too small. It’s questionable whether they have enough meat to make a decent meal, but more importantly over-exploiting new recruits is asking for trouble in a species that is long-lived and has low fecundity.

But who should police this issue?

Does the government have an obligation to regulate the industry to protect associated jobs and economies. Should restaurants demand minimum sizes from their suppliers, to ensure a future stock. Or should consumers vote with their wallets, as I did, and boycott businesses that do not uphold sustainable standards. Share your opinions in the comments below.