Deep Blue Utila — Blog

This was the most important piece of Whale Shark news during 2009

From the National Geographic site

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/03/090309-smallest-whale-shark-baby.html

Baby Whale Shark

March 9, 2009—A local whale shark ”interaction officer” cradles what is likely the smallest known wild example of the world’s biggest fish on Saturday in San Antonio, Philippines.

The discovery of the baby whale shark could help protect these rare giants by shedding light on where whale sharks are born.

Early on March 7 a project leader from the international conservation organization WWF and others in the town of Donsol heard that a live whale shark was being offered for sale at a nearby beach. Expecting a stranded giant, the rescuers found instead a 15-inch (38-centimeter) shark leashed to a stake in the mud like a neglected puppy.

By the end of the day, after photos and measurements had been taken, the young whale shark was free again, released into deeper waters.

Harmless to humans, whale sharks feed mainly on plankton and can grow to at least 40 feet (12 meters) long. They are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, meaning they “face a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future.”

One key to safeguarding the species is finding their birthing grounds, which remain a mystery, said marine conservationist Brad Norman, a National Geographic Society emerging explorer, who had trained local WWF volunteers and staff in cataloging whale sharks. (The National Geographic Society owns National Geographic News.)

“The find is very exciting,” Norman said in an email, as it suggests the Donsol area may be such a place.

And because the shark’s photos and profile are now in Norman’s ECOCEAN Whale Shark Photo-Identification Library, he looks forward future to sightings and study of the newly named P-219 for as long as it may live—perhaps another 60 or 100 years.

For a better view of this baby whale shark look at the video here on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvAyJbeOem0

A Great way to start our new Blog with news about Dr Rachel T Graham who we work with and her 5-day tagging expedition in Bahia de Los Angeles in Mexico.

With The Help Of Volunteers, Iemanya Oceanica Whale Shark Tagging Expedition Deemed A Success

Underwatertimes.com News Service

Dr. Rachel T. Graham of the Wildlife Conservation Society of Belize demonstrates how a 'Spot' tag works. Photo by: Patty Civalleri

WOODLAND HILLS, California — Non-profit organization Iemanya Oceanica today announced the addition of 3 newly tagged whale sharks to their family of sharks for research and conservation. The 3 new sharks are available to the public for adoption online and represent the need for urgent conservation of sharks. The organization’s Adopt A Shark Program now has a total of 10 sharks that, with the aide of the tags, will help provide data to assist in conservation of these mysterious and misunderstood creatures.

Dr. Rachel T. Graham of the Wildlife Conservation Society of Belize demonstrates how a ‘Spot’ tag works. Photo by: Patty Civalleri

Iemanya (pronounced ya-MAHN-ja) Oceanica’s research team recently departed the L.A. area on a 5-day tagging expedition in Bahia de Los Angeles in Mexico. Accompanied by 2 film crews and 20 members of the Southern California public, Iemanya was successful at tagging 3 whale sharks. These animals feed on plankton in the surface waters which makes them particularly vulnerable to boat collisions and overfishing.

The tags were attached by Dr. Rachel T. Graham of the Wildlife Conservation Society of Belize. After photo identifying and determining the sex of the sharks, Dr. Graham and the team attached the tags to the dorsal fin with a simple device. This device or ‘tag’ captures large amounts of data and transmits it via satellite back home, where it is then translated and shared with the online community, making shark research and science accessible to children and ocean enthusiasts.

The type of data being gathered includes air & water temperatures, diving patterns, day-night-and-seasonal movement, calving and feeding habits. This information aids Iemanya in more efficiently advocating for their conservation. The tags serve a 2nd benefit to the organization. “People can now go online and adopt a shark as an educational gift,” said Laleh Mohajerani, Iemanya’s executive director. “Then every day they can track the movement of their shark. This is a wonderful form of interactive education that everyone can participate in and learn from,” she added.

“We opened up 20 seats on this expedition to the public,” said Patty Civalleri, Iemanya board member, “and because of the assistance from the media, we were able to fill those seats quickly with volunteers who came to us with various levels of water skills and a general knowledge of nature and the ocean. We couldn’t have asked for a better group.”

Additional details can be found by visiting www.Adoptashark.com and www.OurOceanOurFuture.org.