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ISRA FACTSHEETS

ASIA REGION

ISRA FACTSHEETS

ASIA REGION

Nila-Serua ISRA

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Nila-Serua ISRA

Nila-Serua

Summary

Nila-Serua is situated in the southern Banda Sea, in eastern Indonesia. It includes three main islands: Nila, Nil Desperandum, and Serua, and is characterised by coral reefs and pinnacles. Within this area there are: threatened species and undefined aggregations (Scalloped Hammerhead Sphyrna lewini).

Nila-Serua

Nila-Serua

DESCRIPTION OF HABITAT

Nila-Serua is situated in the southern Banda Sea, in the Maluku province of Indonesia. It includes three main islands: Nila, Nil Desperandum, and Serua. Nila Island is located in the southwestern part of the area and has an area of 20.5 km2 and includes Dusborgh Reef to the northwest and Nika Island ~1 km to the north. Nil Desperandum is an atoll 30 km northeast from Nila. Serua Island is in the northeastern part of the area with Kekeh-Bessar Island ~1 km to the west. The area is characterised by the presence of coral reefs and pinnacles.

The Banda Sea is highly influenced by monsoon winds (Moore et al. 2003). The southeast monsoon (June to September) produces lower sea surface temperatures and large-scale upwelling on the eastern side of the Banda Sea, where Nila-Serua is located. The northwest monsoon (December to March) brings higher temperatures and a depression of the thermocline (Moore et al. 2003; Iskandar 2010).

This Important Shark and Ray Area is benthopelagic and is delineated from inshore and surface waters (0 m) to 800 m based on the bathymetry of the area.

CRITERION A

VULNERABILITY

One Qualifying Species within the area is considered threatened with extinction according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The Scalloped Hammerhead is assessed as Critically Endangered (Rigby et al. 2019).

CRITERION C

SUB-CRITERION C5 – UNDEFINED AGGREGATIONS

Nila-Serua is an important area for undefined aggregations of one shark species.

Since 2015, annual aggregations of Scalloped Hammerheads (10–200 individuals) have been observed in the area (Serua, Nil Desperandum Islands, Nila Island and Dusborgh Reef) between October and November (A Sianipar & J Hennicke unpubl. data 2023). The largest aggregations have been observed at Serua with more than 200 individuals, whilst maximum aggregations in Nila, Dusborgh, and Nil Desperandum are slightly smaller (up to 150 individuals). The presence of these aggregations has been confirmed during dives undertaken to explore the behaviour of Scalloped Hammerhead at four islands within the Banda Sea, including Serua and Nil Desperandum in October 2021 (Mukharror & Ibrahim 2022). The regularity of these aggregations in Nila-Serua was also confirmed by multiple dive centres operating in the area and liveaboards that regularly visit the area during the aggregation season. More information is needed to confirm the nature and function of these aggregations.

Nila-Serua

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