Cross Campus Collaboration, IPB University Student Presents Research Results at International Symposium
Muhammad Reza Pratama, a student of the Vocational School of IPB University from the Department of Fish Hatchery Technology and Management (IKN) batch 59 succeeded in showing solid collaboration with students from other universities in the 4th Indonesia Shark and Ray Symposium held at the University of Indonesia.
The symposium themed ‘Critical Habitats for Sharks and Rays: Managing Emerging Challenges through Mitigation Strategies, Population Recovery, and Integrating Human Dimensions’ was a platform for students to share research results and strengthen academic networks.
In the event, Reza Pratama collaborated with Syakirah Chuzaimah from the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science (FPIK) Universitas Padjadjaran, and Alvanza Qurandiva Ranandya from FPIK Universitas Jenderal Soedirman. Together, they presented research on the characteristics of online trade in Wedgefishes and Bowmouth Guitarfish in Indonesia through social media platforms.
According to Reza, this collaboration not only enriches their insights but also improves the quality of their research. “This cooperation shows the importance of cross-university collaboration in scientific research. We can combine our resources and expertise to produce more comprehensive research,” he said.
Reza and the team’s research involved online searches through specific keywords to find posts related to the stingray and guitarfish trade. The searches were conducted from January to February 2024 across public Facebook forums and groups on the marine fish trade.
“We used digital technology to identify and analyse the illegal trade in sliced stingrays and guitarfish. This is an important step in conservation efforts,” said Reza Pratama.
Their research found that the trade is still ongoing despite restrictive regulations. Their research found 159 Facebook posts related to the trade of sliced stingrays and guitarfish from 2019 to 2023. The Rhynchobatus australiae species was the most traded, with the majority of sales in the form of whole fish.
Furthermore, Reza Pratama explained that this increase in trade shows the need for more effective mitigation strategies to protect these endangered species. “Our collaboration allows for a more in-depth analysis of trade patterns and their impact on fish populations, especially endangered species,” he said.
The study recommends collecting additional data to improve the representation of the results. Focusing observations on a single fish species will allow for a more detailed analysis of the characteristics of the online trade.
“The results of this study are expected to be used by policy makers to develop more effective mitigation strategies in managing this growing fish trade,’ Reza Pratama concluded.
The collaboration between IPB University Vocational School students and students from other universities in the 4th Indonesia Shark and Ray Symposium proved that cross-institutional cooperation is very beneficial. In addition to enriching research results, this collaboration also strengthens academic and professional relationships among students, which ultimately contributes to efforts to conserve and manage fisheries resources in Indonesia. (DER/ASW/Rz) (IAAS/RUM)
