East African Whale Shark Trust Galu Kinondo Beach PO Box 933 Ukunda 80400 Kenya nimu@giantsharks.org www.giantsharks.org +254720293156

 

                                                                                                            14 June 2007
Background:
The story goes that when God created the whale shark he was so pleased with his handiwork that he gave his angels handfuls of gold and silver coins to throw down from heaven into the sea. These coins landed on the whale shark’s back as it swam peacefully near the surface and that is why the whale shark is called “papa shillingi” which translates as “shark covered in shillings”. So it is that whale sharks swim near the surface as a way of saying thank you to their maker.

Whale sharks have called Kenyan waters home for many years. Recently, there has been a significant increase which is perhaps related to the post El Nino mantis shrimp invasion. Based on Diani Beach the East African Whale Shark Trust was founded by Volker Bassen in response to the dramatic increase in sightings as well as increased interest from the tourist sector.

The increase in whale sharks along the Kenyan coast has meant that they have become more of a target. Under international law, whale sharks are only given a secondary type of protection. They are listed under CITES Appendix II meaning that trade in whale sharks is allowed but must be monitored. Although relatively little is known about the biggest fish in the ocean, most specialists will agree that this level of protection is not enough. The overall aim of many whale shark projects is to raise awareness so that the level of protection afforded to whale shark is increased. The more we know about whale sharks the easier it will be to review the level of protection. The EAWST aims to provide a research centre for collecting and analyzing data on the local whale shark population, its habits and movements. The Trust works closely with other regional organizations because whale sharks are migratory.                                                                                                

About the whale shark:
Seen as an indicator of a healthy marine eco-system, whale sharks are filter feeders. They eat plankton, sieving it from the water through their gills. They are often seen swimming slowly along with their mouths agape, feeding as they move through the water. They can grow up to 18m and weigh up to 20 tons. They give birth to live young. They are solitary creatures for the most part and live in temperate waters around the equator, both along coastlines and in the open seas.

Recent studies have revealed that they can dive to depths of over 1000m and that they spend most of their time at great depths, coming to the surface mostly at night to feed when the plankton rises with the diminishing ambient light.

Threats:
The major threat the whale sharks in our waters face is being caught in the local fishermen’s large mesh nylon drift nets. Unfortunately this is getting increasingly common. Joint initiatives are underway between the EAWST and local fishermen to encourage more environmentally friendly fishing methods.

EAWST:
Set up in 2005 the EAWST has various projects underway, perhaps the most exciting being the tagging programme run in conjunction with HUBBS Seaworld Research Institute, San Diego. 2007 marked the first ever successful tagging expedition to be run off the coast of Africa. Over 50 whale sharks were spotted and 11 tagged in an 8 day period. Various tags were deployed including satellite tags and streamer tags; DNA samples were also taken.

About the tags:
The satellite tags are attached to the whale shark using a Hawaiian sling gun. They can store data for up to one year after which the tag is released by a timer and the data is transmitted via satellite. These tags give data such as dive profile, ambient light, and salinity levels. From that it is possible to work out migration patterns. These tags cost around USD 5000 each. The archival tags are considerably cheaper at USD 600 a piece and whilst they store similar data they have to be removed from the whale shark in order to retrieve the data. Finally the streamer tags are small numbered flags that are attached to the whale shark to allow visual identification.

Education and conservation:
The Trust runs workshops and presentations in schools and hotels for students and visitors alike. Field trips and safaris are also offered.

Fishermen Initiative:
Because the major threat Kenyan whale sharks face is being caught in a fisherman’s net our latest initiative is a fibre-glass turtle shell workshop where local fishermen are taught how to make fibre-glass turtle shell lamps. These are sold to tourists and the money raised is used to buy the traditional nylon mesh nets from the fishermen and teach them how to use more environmentally friendly fishing methods.

Merchandise:
Whale shark carvings, Tshirts and DVDs are available for sale. Now that our tagging programme is underway it is possible to adopt a shark and learn more about its progress as the data on its movements comes in.

2nd International Whale Shark Conference
The 2nd international whale shark conference is to be held on Holbox Island, Mexico from 25 – 30 August 2007. Representatives from the EAWST attended the 1st international whale shark conference in May 2005 in Perth, Australia. It is imperative that Kenya and the EAWST is represented at this landmark event. The potential for conservation, education and tourism in Kenya is enormous as people travel all over the world to see whale sharks in remote places such as Mexico and Australia. Kenya is easily accessible to the European market in particular, as well as having other attractions such as its beautiful game parks.

Our request:
The EAWST invite you to sponsor its delegation of 2 to attend the Mexico conference in order to promote raising the profile of whale sharks in Kenya and across the globe. As a flagship species of our ocean whale sharks deserve the ultimate level of protection and respect. We still have so much to learn about the biggest fish in the sea and international conferences are a crucial way of collaborating the work that is being done world-wide.

The budget:

                                               

What we can offer you:
We can offer you branding on our website and inclusion in press releases and articles. We can also name one of our tagged sharks after you or your company and send you updates as to its movements as and when the data comes in.

Benefits to Whale Shark conservation in Kenya:
The tagging programme started in collaboration with HUBBS Seaworld Research Institute 2 years ago was a direct result of attending the 1st International Whale Shark Conference in Perth in 2005. With various projects all over the world these meetings provide an invaluable opportunity to review research, highlight issues and concerns. They are the ideal forum within which to recognise needs and draft recommendations which help persuade governments to review the protection given to whale sharks.

Conclusion:
EAWST feels that their work todate is just the beginning for whale shark conservation in Kenya. The potential for cutting edge research and conservation initiatives as well as tourism boosters is immense. We are dedicated to raising awareness and protecting the whale shark, and would ask that you help us continue our work by helping us   attend the Mexico conference.

Everybody remembers the first time they swam or dived with a whale shark as it is unforgettable. To get close to such a large and beautiful creature is an awesome, immensely humbling experience. There is something magical about watching them move, the curve of their tail, the glint of their spots and the tiny yellow and blue fish that collect in the jet stream in front of their mouths. With a graceful sweep of their bodies they can disappear into the deep, taking with them their secrets.

Committed to whale shark conservation and education
Trustees: Jeni Kenyatta, Carey Ngini, Torben Rune, Jan Westin