Locals To Take Up Whale Shark Cause

June 10, 2009

Release from: Maryam Omidi
Minivan News (Maldives)

They may be the largest fish in the world, growing to lengths of up to 18m, but not much is known about whale sharks, says Richard Rees, a member of the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP).

Numerous questions about their behaviour, their lifespan, mating habits, and migratory routes still remain unanswered.

The MWSRP was established in 2006 in the hope of discovering this valuable information. But, says Rees, the goal is to eventually enable local communities to conduct research and carry out community-based conservation.

So far, the team’s database comprises 120 individual sharks, out of which, four are female. “Obviously the females need to be around somewhere but we don’t know where that is,” says Rees.

He speculates they could be living elsewhere or deeper down in the sea: tagging the sea creatures has revealed they swim as deep as 1,500m.

Unlike other parts in the world where whale sharks aggregate seasonally, says another member of the team Adam Harman, research can be carried out all year round in the Maldives, making it a unique destination both for researchers and tourists.

Discussing their movements, Rees says whale sharks are highly mobile, swimming as far afield as India and even the Seychelles. “But they keep returning to this spot in South Ari atoll.”

The team spends hours driving around in a dhoni (traditional boat), in the hope of catching sight of one of the leviathan, polka-dotted fish.

Each new whale shark is tagged with one of two different tags: satellite or archival, which like dive computers record pressure, depth and temperature.

Another enigmatic quirk is the whale shark trait of diving up and down, which Rees says is either to feed or regulate body temperature. Mating, he adds, is a “complete mystery”.

In addition to carrying out their much-needed research, the team visits local schools to give talks on their work and take schoolchildren on whale shark-spotting trips.

Vulnerable

The whale shark has been categorised as “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List for threatened animals and their population is expected to decline by as much as 50 per cent over the next hundred years.

Earlier this week, the government of the Maldives designated three whale shark habitats as protected areas, a move which Rees describes as a “massive step in the right direction”. “But,” he adds, “we need to make sure it doesn’t become just another paper park.”

Environment Minister Mohamed Aslam announced Monday that the coral reefs and waters in and around Baa atoll Hanifaru and An'gafaru, and South Ari atoll Maamigili would be protected areas to commemorate World Ocean Day on 8 June.

“The government is committed to protecting and preserving the Maldives’ exceptional biodiversity. The marine environment is the bedrock of our economy, supporting our largest industries, tourism and fisheries. Not only will this initiative protect whale sharks, but also other mega-fauna including manta rays and reef sharks,” Aslam said.

The programme is a joint initiative by the MWSRP, the government and the communities of Baa atoll and South Ari atoll.

Under the project, fishing will be limited in the protected areas while diving and snorkelling will be permitted under strict guidelines.

Waste management programmes will be implemented on local islands to prevent pollution and speed limits in a “core” area will be imposed on boats to prevent collisions with whale sharks.

Another researcher, Rachel Bott, says boat strikes are one of four major threats to sharks and over 70 per cent of the giant fish have scars caused by boats – the highest in the Indian Ocean.

Other threats include accidental by-catch and the disturbance of their habitats through pollution and unregulated tourism as well as illegal fishing and finning.

A shark fin can fetch up to thousands of dollars in countries such as Hong Kong where it is used to make shark-fin soup or serve as an attention-grabbing billboard outside of a restaurant serving the delicacy.

Ownership

The overall goal of establishing protected zones is to decrease the number of scars borne by whale sharks, increase its numbers and enhance research findings.

It is further expected to boost tourist visitation and income for local communities, and encourage local conservation initiatives.

Stage one will involve establishing a code of conduct to teach both tourists and locals how to behave around whale sharks, the creation of an advisory committee, and a waste management awareness campaign.

Rees stresses the first phase of the programme will involve extensive consultation with local communities “so they can be involved in every step, every change that comes about.”

Ben Fothergill, the fourth member of the team further underscores the importance of establishing ownership among local communities to ensure they feel they have a stake in the project.

“Local people are so excited,” says Bott. “They love getting involved. The fishermen have told us information about the sharks which we would never have known, such as where and when they have seen really really small sharks.”

Ahmed Faiz Rasheed, Chief of Dhigurah, an island near the Maamigili Marine Protected Area, says the project has support from the local community as “it is very much connected to the people of the Maldives, especially the fishermen.”