The Whale Shark Project
Added to website: 21 February 2005
Project AWARE Foundation (1) in collaboration with the Shark Trust (2), have developed the International Whale Shark Project to promote conservation of one of the most beautiful and impressive marine creatures: the whale shark. Project AWARE Foundation and scientists involved in this eco-tourism initiative are calling all divers and snorkellers for help in contributing to the protection of whale sharks by logging and reporting their sightings to a new Whale Shark Photo Identification database located at www.whalesharkproject.org
The whale shark database is designed to help divers and snorkellers to contribute vital information to researchers studying whale shark migrations and producing the information that is essential for planning the conservation management of these huge, harmless animals. Photographs of specific parts of the whale shark can be matched against existing records, so we can understand when these animals migrate and how their populations are structured. Whale sharks are a spectacular living resource and an encounter is an experience of a lifetime. Unfortunately, the whale shark population is in decline and without having more information, we cannot prove just how endangered and at risk this population is.
How you can help?
If you’ve always dreamt of diving or snorkelling with a whale shark, then visit the Education and Awareness section of www.projectaware.org to find out details of dive centres and resorts actively participating in the International Whale Shark Project. At these dive centres you may have the opportunity to enrol on to a Whale Shark Awareness Speciality course, which will give you essential knowledge and skills to dive or snorkel responsibly with whale sharks. This course will also give you more information about biology, behaviour and distribution of the world’s largest fish. If you want to contribute to their protection, take a photograph and record a few details when you are fortunate enough to come across one. Alternatively, if you already have a photo, take a look in your logbooks for details of when and where you saw the whale shark, and log this photo and information on to www.whalesharkproject.org Each photo submitted will make a genuine contribution to the understanding and future conservation of the whale sharks.
To further promote the International Whale Shark Project and raise public awareness of the importance of protecting these animals, Project AWARE Foundation has produced a Whale Shark Project brochure, which explains why and how to get involved in this worthwhile project. Copies of the brochure are available from all the participating dive centres and resorts and from your local Project AWARE Foundation office. Please help us ensure that future generations of divers will continue to encounter these magnificent creatures so threatened today.
