Indonesia’s First Vessel Buyout Program Permanently Retires Shark Fishing Boats in East Lombok
Pilot program uses novel auction mechanism to offer fishers a fair, voluntary exit from targeted shark fishery — a potential model for CITES implementation across Indonesia
TANJUNG LUAR, EAST LOMBOK — In what is believed to be the first vessel buyout program in Indonesia, two shark longline fishing vessels have been permanently retired from one of the country’s most prominent shark fisheries. The program, led by Indonesian NGO Kebersamaan Untuk Lautan (KUL) with the Department of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of West Nusa Tenggara (DKP NTB) and researchers from the University of Oxford, IPB University and Bangor University, used a sealed-bid reverse auction to identify willing sellers and determine a fair compensation price.
Tanjung Luar is home to around 61 licensed shark longline vessels. Over a two-year monitoring period, more than 13,000 sharks and rays from 57 species were recorded in the catch — with more than 90% of the catch comprising species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Four vessel owners voluntarily submitted confidential bids to exit the fishery. Based on KUL’s available budget, two were selected and paid a uniform price of IDR 300 million (~USD 17,700) each — set by the auction’s incentive-compatible mechanism, which encourages honest bidding. A formal handover ceremony was held at Tanjung Luar Fishing Port together with DKP NTB, including the signing of binding agreements and the surrender of all vessel documentation and fishing licences. DKP NTB are now overseeing the permanent decommissioning of the vessels and cancellation of permits.
Based on catch monitoring data, the two retired vessels together landed 406 sharks and rays in 2025 alone. Over a ten-year horizon, their permanent removal could prevent an estimated 4,000 or more sharks and rays being killed, at a cost of less than US$9 per animal saved.
Based on catch monitoring data, the two retired vessels together landed 406 sharks and rays in 2025 alone. Over a ten-year horizon, their permanent removal could prevent an estimated 4,000 or more sharks and rays being killed, at a cost of less than US$9 per animal saved.
“This program shows that fishers are willing to voluntarily exit the shark fishery when they are offered a fair price and a respectful process,” said M. Said Ramdlan, Co-Founder and Secretary of KUL. “We designed this together with the fishing community, and the response gives us confidence that this approach can be scaled up.”
“This is a proof of concept for a new approach to support fisheries management and conservation in small-scale fisheries in the region,” said Dr. Hollie Booth, Co-Founder and Chair of KUL and Research Fellow at the University of Oxford and Bangor University. “As Indonesia works to implement its CITES obligations for sharks and rays, there needs to be a mechanism to reduce fishing pressure that is fair to the communities who depend on these fisheries. Vessel buyouts, done right, offer one such approach.”
The pilot is part of a wider collaboration between KUL and DKP NTB to support evidence-based shark and ray management in the province. KUL has recently been appointed as the coordinator for shark and ray fisheries management in NTB under the province’s Joint Fisheries Management Committee (Komite Pengelola Bersama Perikanan, or KPBP) – a new multi-stakeholder body being formalised through a Decree of the Governor (Keputusan Gubernur). In February 2026, KUL participated in a drafting meeting at DKP NTB to help shape the committee’s structure and mandate. The discussions focused on clarifying institutional roles and responsibilities, strengthening collaboration between the various NGOs and working groups operating in NTB’s fisheries sector, and improving transparency through public reporting.
“We appreciate the program implemented by KUL, as it provides opportunities for shark fishers in Tanjung Luar who wish to transition to alternative livelihoods, while still addressing conservation targets and the welfare of fishers. This initiative is aligned with the Regional Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMD) of West Nusa Tenggara Province,” said Muslim, S.T, M.Si, Department of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of West Nusa Tenggara (DKP NTB).
The program was supported by the UK Darwin Initiative via the University of Oxford, the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) and the Shark Conservation Fund via Bangor University and the Oceanic Society.
