South Africa, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, and most recently Tanzania may lead to further discoveries, as well as the danger of a severe decline similar to that seen off the Comores. Hopefully, steps will quickly be implemented to prevent the repeat of past mistakes. Additionally, the knowledge that there are now "new populations" may lead to a further reduction in conservation efforts based on a false impression that they are now plentiful. DNA reports indicate that the Indonesian population is a new species of coelacanth. This Indonesian population has been given the scientific name Latimeria menadoensis.

Of course, Latimeria was not really "discovered." The local fishing inhabitants of both Sulawesi, Indonesia and the Comoros Islands were well aware of the species long before the scientific community got involved. Fishermen in both locations even had preexisting names for the fish. The Comoros Islanders refer to Latimeria as gombessa. In north Sulawesi, they are know by the name raja laut, or "king of the sea."

The coelacanth has managed to survive relatively unchanged for nearly 400 million years. Though originally thought to be extinct for more than 60 million years, it wasn't until their rediscovery in the twentieth century that they faced their greatest challenge for survival.

The majority of preservation attempts to date can only be characterized as "Band-Aid Conservation," resulting in mostly disappointing results.  Beyond scientific circles, coelacanth awareness is woefully inadequate.  The political climates and finances of the governments adjacent to the populations are an obstacle as well. The United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has barred all international trade regarding this severely endangered species. However, human predation continues to be a serious problem. Perhaps as few as 500 individuals still survive along the Comores today.

 

Of great concern is an increase in trawling by Japanese fishing boats and others in areas where coelacanths live.  The governments of South Africa, Indonesia, Tanzania, and the Comoros Islands are all in the process of trying to limit fishing in their respective coelacanth habitats.