Whale Sharks

Category: Research | Date: Apr 24 2008 | By: admin

Greetings!

News from our scientist Brent in San Diego - another of this year’s tags has popped up. Tag 80172 appeared a few days ago just south of the Kenya-Somalia border and has drifted steadily NE along the coastline. It is now near Ras Komboni, Somalia (a reported Al Quaida training area so Brent advises not to go chasing this particular tag just now). The tag appeared offshore jus a little north of Lamu and near Pate island. This tag was scheduled to come off in November (9 months after tagging on 22 February off Diani beach. We don’t know yet why it has popped off. It could have been taken off or the dart tip came off or the line was bitten through - the shark was at relatively the same depth for a while and sometimes this can trigger the early default release as well. We might get some clues when the data is all in and can be analysed properly. In any event, we will have 2  months worth of data on where this shark has been which is great news! Very positive
Last known coordinates are 1Deg 37.87′S, 41Deg 39.43′E so for those of you who can help us retrieve this tag, do feel free!

Will keep you posted with any other developments.

Have a nice day

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