Rare shark ray returns to Singapore waters as conservation efforts expand regionally.
A critically endangered marine species has reappeared in Singapore’s scientific record, while a separate conservation milestone is showing how breeding, research, and international cooperation could support its survival.
First Formal Record Since 1995
A critically endangered bowmouth guitarfish was formally recorded in Singapore waters for the first time in nearly 30 years after anglers filmed the animal near Bedok Jetty on October 29, 2022. Researchers estimated the solitary fish was between 1.5 and 2 meters long and observed it swimming for three to five minutes before it disappeared. The previous formal record dated to 1995, when a 1.83-meter specimen weighing about 40kg was reportedly caught in a shrimp net off Marine Parade.
More Sightings Suggest Continued Presence
Researchers have since received additional reports suggesting bowmouth guitarfish may still pass through Singapore waters. National University of Singapore marine biologist Zeehan Jaafar said her team was alerted in August 2026 to a sighting from May 24, when anglers hooked one from a vessel and later released it, although that sighting had not yet been officially recorded. The Bedok Jetty observation forms part of a Mandai Nature-funded project studying sharks and rays in Singapore’s territorial waters and the effects of recreational fishing on threatened species.
Species Faces Severe Conservation Threats
The bowmouth guitarfish, sometimes called a shark ray because of its shark-like body and ray-like fins, is considered critically endangered. The Straits Times reported that it ranks among the most genetically unique jawed vertebrate lineages facing an extreme risk of extinction, with threats including wildlife trafficking, overfishing, and habitat degradation. A 2024 paper cited in the report estimated that its extinction could mean losing 88 million years of evolutionary history, as it is the only surviving species in the genus Rhina.
Singapore Oceanarium Achieves Conservation First
Singapore Oceanarium has separately advanced conservation efforts for the species through a first-of-its-kind transnational release in Taiwan. A juvenile bowmouth guitarfish born under human care at the oceanarium in 2025 was transported from Singapore to Taiwan on June 4, 2026, before being released offshore from Taitung on June 22. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums said Singapore Oceanarium became the first organization to successfully breed and raise a bowmouth guitarfish that was later released into its natural habitat.
Satellite Tracking Supports Future Research
The released fish was fitted with a satellite tag so researchers can study its survival, movements, and habitat use in the wild. The project involves Singapore Oceanarium, Taiwanese government and research institutions, Georgia Aquarium, and other partners. Researchers cited by both reports emphasized that bowmouth guitarfish can travel long distances and that protecting a transboundary species across its wider distribution range may be more effective than conservation efforts limited to individual locations.
The renewed record of bowmouth guitarfish in Singapore waters and the successful Taiwan release highlight the importance of research, public sightings, breeding programs, and international cooperation in protecting critically endangered marine species. For Singaporeans, the findings provide new evidence of threatened marine biodiversity in local waters. For Indonesians, the articles offer a relevant regional conservation example, particularly because researchers stress that highly mobile marine species require protection and collaboration across their broader distribution range.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , AZA ORG (2026)
Keywords: Bowmouth Guitarfish Singapore, Singapore Marine Conservation, Singapore Oceanarium, Endangered Marine Species, Shark Ray Singapore, Marine Biodiversity
