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· To
advise the public and stakeholders about the monitoring
project and its findings to date
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· To
advise the public and stakeholders of the local,
regional and international status of whale shark
conservation legislation
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· To
develop a list of stakeholders and ascertain who is
interested in actively assisting in monitoring in some
way
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· To
get support from stakeholders to set up a monitoring
network based on sighting reporting
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· To
inform stakeholders of the possibilities of whale shark
eco-tourism and it's inherent problems
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· To
get feedback from stakeholders on the development of a
Whale Shark Encounter Policy as a basis for a specific
workshop
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Whale
shark with team member. Photo Udo Engelhardt |
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Following
the success of this work shop, a second workshop is
being planned in the near future to discuss the design and
implementation of a Whale Shark Encounter Policy.
A
copy of the proceedings of the workshop can be
downloaded in pdf format by
clicking
here.
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In
November 2002, at the 12th Conference of Parties for the
Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species,
(CITES) in Santiago, Chile, a number of landmark agreements
resulted, including the protection of the whale shark.
India and Philippines proposed that the whale shark be
listed on CITES appendix II. This, while not banning
international trade, requires member nations to place trade
restrictions on whale shark products such as fins and meat,
which are widely traded in South East Asia. This is a highly
lucrative industry with whale shark carcasses being sold for
as much as US$ 3,000.00.
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Feeding
whale shark. Photo Bob Wharton |
Although, a number of countries have provided varying levels
of protection for whale sharks which occur in their
national waters, prior to 2002 there was no international
management for sharks in place nor was trade monitored.
According to Brad Norman from the Shark Society Group
“whale shark catches have declined and populations are
apparently being depleted by harpoon fisheries in several
countries”. Directed fisheries, high value in
international trade, a K-selected life history, highly
migratory nature, and low abundance make this species
vulnerable to exploitation. Furthermore, the growing whale
shark dive tourism industry in a number of locations around
the world has shown that there is potential for this shark
to be utilised in a non consumptive manner and generate an alternative
source of income for whale shark fishermen.
One 13th January 2003, the Cabinet of Seychelles approved
the proposal by the Minister of Environment, Mr. Ronny
Jumeau, to protect whale sharks in the territorial waters of
Seychelles.
This further enhances the initiatives of other range states,
such as the Maldives, South Africa, the State of Western
Australia and India to protect the species throughout its
trans-boundary migrations around the Indian Ocean.
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Between
January to June 2003, 151 sightings were reported
with 109 in-water encounters. A total of 35 sharks were
confidently identified. Of these 13 were tagged with placard
marker tags and 21 sexed (16 males and 5 females).
In terms of re-sighting, 10 tagged sharks and 4
untagged sharks were re-sighted from this season. As for
re-sightings of sharks identified last year, 2 tagged sharks
and 1 untagged shark have returned to Seychelles so far
year.
Please
note that the data has been compiled from observations made by
members of the Seychelles National Whale Shark Monitoring
Network .
Aerial survey’s using the MCSS Micro-light are due to
commence in July when the whale shark are expected to appear
once again in the coastal waters of Seychelles. Whale shark
tagging will also start once the sharks have appeared in
sufficient numbers.
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