IN THIS ISSUE

 International Whale Shark Conference

This is the last chance for registration for the international whale shark conference in Perth, Australia on the 9th to 12th May 2005 .
 
Registration can be made through Lucy Kay on lucy.kay@csiro.au

The conference will explore current knowledge of whale sharks, the threats they face and the nature of their interactions with humans across both developed and developing countries. Delegates will present a range of perspectives on current management practices involving whale sharks, conservation, fishing, eco-tourism and other socio-economic issues.

Down load the pdf flyer
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NOTICE BOARD

Whale Shark Sightings 
 Jan - Mar 2005

In-water Sightings
74 reported sightings
43 in-water encounters
1 sharks identified
16 sharks sexed (9M/7F)
1 shark re-sighted from last season


Aerial Sightings
(Jan-Mar)

3 flights in total
2hrs  flying time
4 sharks sighted
Maximum of 3 sharks seen on a single flight

Please send us any comments or news for inclusion by clicking

Save Our Seas Foundation Funds MCSS Whale Shark Programme

MCSS have been awarded funding from the Save Our Seas Foundation for a two year continuation of the Seychelles Whale Shark Programme in association with the University Marine Biological Station Millport (UMBSM). The project proposal was formulated by MCSS Chairman David Rowat and UMBSM experts Dr. Rupert Ormond and Dr. Mauvis Gore.

UMBSM is  part of the University of London and Dr. Gore is currently running a programme on basking sharks in the Clyde sea, off the West coast of Scotland, and so there will be many synergies available from that programme.

  The Save our Seas Funding will cover the external costs of the Whale Shark Monitoring Project including the provision of several electronic / satellite tags ...

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	New whale shark brochure from the PADI project

PADI Project Aware, The Shark Trust and the National Aquarium have launched a new web site to support their on-going Whale Shark Project: 
                                  www.whalesharkproject.org
  
The site supports a Whale Shark Photo Identification project and has been created to encourage divers and snorkellers world-wide to report their sightings. It is hoped that by contributing sightings and identification photos, divers and snorkellers will be able to contribute information to assist researchers studying whale shark migrations...

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Geoff Taylor, a medical Doctor, has been photographing whale sharks for over 12 years in Ningaloo, Western Australia, and his enthusiasm and photos helped kick start the whale shark eco-tourism industry there. Now his impressive whale shark photo collection has become the core of a research programme at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) led by Dr. Mark Meekan.

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	Distinctive scar on this large Sodwana shark. Photo Gypsea Centre

The 2004-05 Whale Shark Season in Sodwana Bay, South Africa, has been a relatively good one with a total of 33 sharks sighted between 1 December 2004 and 5 March 2005. Of these 33 Whale Shark sightings, we (divers from the Gypsea Centre) had 16 in-water encounters with 11 animals which were photographed and sexed for Identification. From these in-water encounters, we noticed a slightly higher level of social behaviour.

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Please let us know! Please get as much information as possible, where when, how many, how big, what it was doing etc. then call us, e-mail us or fill out our on-line sighting form every sighting is important in building a picture of these sharks movements and behaviour around Seychelles

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By becoming a whale shark foster parent you are ensuring that research on whale sharks is continued. Your support will assist in protecting these amazing creatures and ensure that they continue roaming the world’s tropical oceans.

Adopt me !

Mazarin (s275): A 4½ m juvenile male whale shark tagged on the 25th January 2003 near L'ilôt Island. He has a distinct scaring pattern and is easily recognized.

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