~The Marine Conservation Society, Seychelles~  

  
   

 

 

  

Seychelles whale shark monitoring newsletter 

  Dec 2003  Vol 1, No. 4
   
 

All Tangled Up...

On the 17th October, Big Blue divers reported seeing  a dead whale shark in Baie Ternay Marine Park. The shark had apparently gotten tangled in an illegal shark net and must have swum into the shallow water in an attempt to free itself. 

 

MCSS staff together with those from the Underwater Centre, Big Blue Divers, the Seychelles Centre for Marine Research and Technology -   Marine Parks Authority (SCMRT-MPA), and the Seychelles Coast Guard were able to locate the shark at a depth of 25m. Tissue samples were taken for future DNA analysis and after 3 hours of prep-work we were able to haul the carcass to the surface for disposal. The body was so badly decomposed however, that it had to be disposed off at sea (about 3nm offshore).  

 

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Photo Identification of Whale Sharks

Although described some 170 years ago, very little is known about the life of the whale shark. This is mainly because the shark spends most if its life out of sight, appearing only at certain times of the year in coastal areas, such as Ningaloo reef. In recent years a number of programmes have been set up study the whale shark and following increasing interest from the diving industry, marine eco-tourism ventures have been set up at sites throughout the tropics known to be predictably frequented by whale sharks. As the number of whale shark encounters increase, this has created the opportunity to use photography to identify individual animals, many of which have distinguishing marks, either in the form of natural markings acquired markings, ie. scars and injuries.  

  Photo-identification has been effectively used for studying a variety of terrestrial and marine animals in their natural environment. 

 

Individual whale sharks can be identified from the distinct color patterns around the gills and the area around the primary dorsal fin

 For example, individual humpback whales can be recognised by the distinct pattern on the tail fluke, thus allowing researchers to understand the movements of these animals. Photographs are analysed for possible matches in a central database using computer-based digital image recognition software.

  Valuable information about the biology and ecology of whale sharks can be gained by re-identifying individuals. However, the recognition of individual sharks relies on capturing specific areas of the shark’s body in the photograph. Researchers have shown that the colour pattern of the area of skin around the gills and the area around the primary dorsal fin is particularly useful for identification purposes.

The ECOCEAN PhotoID Library© was initiated in 1995 through the research of Brad Norman at Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia to catalogue individual whale sharks. In 2002, Jason Holmberg established the Shepherd Project, which enabled the library to grow through the help and on-line sighting submissions of the research, conservation, and eco-tourist communities around the world.

The hot zone for the Ecocean / Shepherd Project photo ID project. Photo Bob Wharton.

  A similar database is being set up through the “International Whale Shark Photo-identification Project” which is administered by a consortium of UK conservation organisations: The National Marine Aquarium, PADI Project AWARE and The Shark Trust. The first collection of images was compiled in 2002 but as yet the library does not accept online submissions.

  Through its volunteer network, the Marine Conservation Society, Seychelles, (MCSS) has compiled a number of photographs of over 30 whale sharks which have visited Seychelles waters in the past 3 years, with the majority of photographs having been taken in 2003. It is our hope that through submission of these images to such international initiatives, we will be able to determine where these sharks go to when they leave our waters.

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