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Seychelles
whale shark monitoring newsletter
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June 2003 Vol 1, No.
2
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STOP
PRESS |
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National
workshop on Whale Sharks
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On the 28th
of May, MCSS conducted its first National workshop on
whale sharks. Participants were briefed on the MCSS
research programme and conservation measures relevant to
the species. The main aim of the workshop was to set up a
National Whale Shark Monitoring Network in
Seychelles
. Potential partners were identified and participants were
able to comment on data collection and information
exchange methods..
The
participants concluded that an encounter policy was
needed, the framework for which would be discussed in a
2nd workshop..
(Workshop
Proceedings pdf)
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NOTICE
BOARD |
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Sightings in
May-Jun 2003
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6 reported
sightings
2 in-water encounter
Is it a bird, is it a plane ...
Micro-light aerial surveys are
due to commence in July through to October.
Contact Johan 59 28 35 if you
wish to get involved.
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Please
send us any comments or news for inclusion by clicking |
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www.mcss.
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WHALE
SHARK RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION IN SEYCHELLES.
Part
2. |
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In
the mid-1990’s, the presence of whale sharks in the
coastal waters of Seychelles was well known but little
research had been done on their population dynamics or
life history in this sector of the Indian Ocean. In view
of this, a pilot project was set up in November 1996 to
tag whale sharks in Seychelles.
The
project was conceived by Marie Levine, Executive Director
of the Shark Research Institute (S.R.I.) and David Rowat,
Chairman of the Association of Professional Divers,
Seychelles (A.P.D.S.).Its
implementation was a co-operative effort between members
of the S.R.I. Whale Shark Tagging Team and staff members
of the Underwater Centre Seychelles, representing the
A.P.D.S.....
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Full article>> |
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| Whale
shark world
wide conservation status
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Concern
over the survival of the whale shark has been growing
since the mid 1990’s especially since the species is
known to be targeted by South East Asian fisheries, as
whale shark meat is the most expensive shark meat
available.
 The whale
shark was listed as ‘data deficient’ in 1996 on the
World Conservation Union’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened
Species. In 1999, the whale shark was listed under
appendix II at the 6th Convention on Migratory Species
(Bonn Convention) in South Africa.......
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Full article>> |
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| Oceanic
migration
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Very little
is known about whale shark movements and migrations in the
Indian ocean. The earliest evidence showing that whale
sharks travel large distances was from the 1996 whale
Shark Tagging Pilot Project conducted in Seychelles. A
shark tagged in November 1996 was re-sighted by a diver
off Mozambique in October 1997 showing that the species
migrates between the waters of Seychelles and the South
East African mainland. Since then, there have been major
advances in tag technology, with satellite tags being used
to track sharks.
With
funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in 2001
MCSS was able purchase Smart Position Only Tags (Spot2),
to track the movements of three sharks as they traversed
the Indian Ocean. Initial analysis of the data.....
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Full article>> |
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| If
you see a whale shark.... |
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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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More details>> |
| Adopt
a whale shark.... |
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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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More details>> |
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