From where I belong: using mitochondrial DNA analysis to investigate the origin of a white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) captured in Indonesian waters

In 2013 and 2019, two separate encounters with a white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) were documented within Indonesian waters. Of particular importance was ca. 6.0 m male C. carcharias that was captured in Lombok, Indonesia in 2013, where an upper lateral tooth was retained. Using the D-loop sequences of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) associated with this captured white shark, the mtDNA was compared to the available mtDNA sequences in GenBank (R) associated with the Northwest Pacific and Australian (i.e. Southern-Western and Eastern) C. carcharias subpopulations to determine its point of origin. Results from the mtDNA analyses suggest that the point of origin for this captured C. carcharias is from one of the Australian subpopulations. When compared to primary literature, this migration presents a northerly range extension for this species; however, since it is unclear what Australian subpopulation this shark was from it is uncertain what subpopulation this range extension applies to. Although C. carcharias presence within Indonesian waters is likely a rare occurrence, being that Indonesia represents the largest shark fin exporter in the world, the utilization of these waters and potential unsustainable exploitation poses a definitive threat to this highly migratory top predator. Therefore, further research investigating the purpose and site fidelity of C. carcharias within these waters is critical to future multijurisdictional protection of this top predator.