Chapter 7 - Shark products in Aceh

Shark and ray fisheries in Southwest Aceh Regency are targeted and non-targeted fisheries. The number of fleets that target sharks and rays in Aceh Jaya was recorded with sizes less than 30 gross tonnages, that use sharks longline as their main fishing gear. Based on fishery data and interview results, the types of sharks caught in Southwest Aceh Regency including requiem sharks (Carcharhinidae), thresher sharks (Alopiidae), hammerhead shark (Sphyrnidae), mako shark (Lamnidae) and others.

After the boat came from the fishing trip, fishers landed their catch on the appointed location. In Southwest Aceh, some shark fishing boat landed at the designated port in Blang Pidie, but some specialized shark boats landed in a private landing site in Lhok Pawoh. After landed, sharks are sorted by species and size.

After sorted, shark is finned and skinned, then the meat is diced as a fillet. The meat then soaked in salted water for a few days before dried in the sun with other body parts. After dried enough, all the products were packed based on the type of product. The marketing of these products is grouped according to the species and type of the product such as fins, meat, skin, bones and oil.

Products such as shark meat is marketed at the local level. Meanwhile, products such as fins, skin, bones, and oil are marketed to other cities and then sold abroad as export products. In addition to being traded, shark and ray body parts in the form of meat play an important role in food security and form a traditional dish of the Southwest Aceh coastal community.

Writer: Muhammad Ichsan

Fishers landed their catches in Lhok Pawoh

Workers cutting sharks that landed in Lhok Pawoh

Shark meat being salted for a few days

Shark fins and tails dried in the sun

Shark skins dried in the sun

Filleted meat being packed by workers