Whale Sharks

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Oct 13 2007 | By: admin

In April 2006 we had a grand dinner on MV Nyayo, one of the ferries that operates from Mombasa island to the mainland. Nyayo means ” footsteps ” and the ferry was decked out in blue and silver balloons and garlands. We were welcomed on board by traditional dancers and cocktails. There was live entertainment, a fashion show by disabled children from Bombolulu, a yummy buffet and a wonderful atmosphere. It was the EAWST’s official launch and the event was well-covered by the media. Everyone had a great evening and as well raising money perhaps more importantly we raised a huge amount of awareness and local support. The best part for me was that thanks to our sponsors we were able to invite a table of local fishermen, divers and boat captains to join us for the evening. It was wonderful to see them enjoying themselves for such a good cause.

These pictures show the beautiful sunset we enjoyed,Volker’s speech and the merry crowd. This is part of what Volker said on that memorable night:

“Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen thank you so much for coming here tonight. Seeing you all sitting here on the ferry is the realization of the start of a great vision for this country.

Kenya

is one of the few places in the world where whale sharks can be found in great numbers. Several years ago I and several others who live along our coast noticed a significant increase in the numbers of whale sharks. We began to notice a pattern, when they came, when they left, where their favourite locations were. The launch tonight of the East African Whale Shark Trust marks the start of a unique conservation venture. We want to educate all Kenyans as to the value of the biggest fish in the ocean. We want to raise awareness and give this gentle giant the respect and protection it deserves. We want to save the whale shark for future generations.

“Whale sharks grow incredibly slowly, only about 5cm per year. They mature at 30 years old. Many of the sharks we see here are not mature, meaning that they will possibly become extinct if current trends are allowed to continue. They are also slow movers, moving at around 5kph making them an easy target to hunt. As other parts of the world such as

India

successfully illegalize whale shark hunting, it is important that countries like ours put a stop to any potential of whale shark hunting gathering momentum here. By raising awareness and working together with the institutions and organisations already in place we hope to stop any whale shark trade or by-catch trade going on in our waters.

“We invited representatives from the local fishing community here tonight as a sign of recognition of their insight into this fish. Having lived alongside it for many years their specialized knowledge is invaluable. We are very lucky here in

Kenya

to have fishermen who are keen to work with us and help us save the whale shark. We already have systems in place that should a whale shark get caught in a net for example, we are able work together to set it free. Workshops are underway to stop the use of these nets altogether, replacing them with environmentally friendly fishing methods which will save both whale sharks and turtles as well as other marine life.

“In Exmouth, which is a little town in

North Western Australia
, the community depends on the whale shark. The whale shark industry makes over $20 million during the 4 month season. People travel all over the world and pay a great deal of money to swim with the whale shark. 60% of these visitors come from Europe. Exmouth cannot offer half of what we can offer here. It is also far more remote than

Kenya

.

“A healthy marine ecosystem is the sign of a healthy environment. It will not be long before

Kenya

is renowned for being a whale shark haven. We have some of the most beautiful beaches and stunning dive sites in the world. The potential for eco-tourism is huge. Our project is only the beginning of something great for this country. We are so happy that you are here to celebrate this beginning with us. Thank you and I hope you have a wonderful evening.”

The word “nyayo” is symbolic here because it was coined by Kenya’s first president Jomo Kenyatta and often used by former President Moi when he followed in Kenyatta’s footsteps. I like to think of all the conservation projects all over the world, big and small, known and not known, making their own footsteps as we all try to play our part in conserving our planet.

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Category: Uncategorized | Date: Oct 11 2007 | By: admin

The future of whale sharks and whale shark conservation is in the hands of our children. We often give presentations in local schools and in these pictures you can see Volker our founder giving a talk to the children of Seacrest School in Diani. They were a super little audience and asked various interesting questions! You can see them holding up our stickers which we handed out for “keen bean participation”! We desperately need a small generator, TV/DVD player and projector so that we can give these presentations in more remote schools where there is no electricity. Our goal is to visit each and every school in our community to raise awareness and interest. You can help by contributing, however small, we are always grateful. Thank you and remember “hope floats”!

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Category: Uncategorized | Date: Oct 10 2007 | By: admin

Taiwan bans whale shark consumption, trade by 2008
By CRAIG SIMONS, MARK DAVIS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/21/07

Taipei, Taiwan - Taiwan will ban the harvest and sale of whale sharks
beginning in 2008, a decision that could have repercussions at the
Georgia Aquarium and other facilities where the world’s largest fish are
displayed.

“From the beginning of next year there will be a total ban on catching
and selling whale sharks and whale shark meat,” Lan Wei-tern, a
spokesman for

’s Fisheries Agency, said Monday.

The ban strikes whale shark from Taiwanese grocery shelves and menus,
and at other Asian markets where whale shark meat from
is consumed.

The ban also would halt
’s export of whale sharks to aquariums.
The Georgia Aquarium, the world’s largest aquarium, has three whale
sharks from
, a major supplier of whale sharks. It is negotiating
to get two more this summer from the Taiwanese government, before the
ban takes effect.

The aquarium had four whale sharks until January, when a male, Ralph,
died. A necropsy showed the fish died of peritonitis, an inflammation of
the abdomen. He also had stomach perforations, possibly caused by
force-feeding through a PVC pipe.

Taiwanese officials say they want to know more about Ralph’s death
before approving the export of two more.

Jeff Swanagan, president and executive director of the Georgia Aquarium,
said
made the right decision to stop whale shark trade.

“Georgia Aquarium applauds
for its leadership in conservation in
the region, moving from a fishing-based economy around whale sharks to
an eco-tourism-based economy around whale sharks,” Swanagan said in a
statement.

An aquarium spokesman declined comment on how the ban would impact any
future plans to acquire whale sharks.

According to Taiwanese fisheries oficials, the aquarium is planning to
export next month two male whale sharks already in captivity in an
offshore pen.

The ban recognizes “world opinion” as well as domestic concerns about
the world’s largest fish, said

Chu

Yung-cheng, another fisheries
department spokesman.

“Many Taiwanese have developed a sense of environmental protection,”

Chu

said.

The species needs protecting, said Brad Norman, director of Ecocean, an
Australian nonprofit group working worldwide to protect whale sharks. He
called the ban “absolutely fantastic.”

“The number of whale sharks has dropped dramatically over the past few
years and the ban sends a message both to Taiwan and the rest of the
world that officials there recognize how imperiled this animal is,”
Norman said.

Rhincodon typus, the whale shark, is a mysterious animal -no one knows
how far whale sharks migrate, their life expectancy, or how many exist
in the wild.

Numbers from the fisheries agency indicate that the species is under
pressure in Taiwanese waters.

In 1995, according to records,
caught 270 whale sharks. In 2001,
the catch dwindled to “about 100,” said Zhuang Shouzheng, an associate
professor at

National
Taiwan
Ocean
University

.

The next year, 2002,
set an 80-fish quota of whale sharks. Also
that year, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
of Wild Fauna and Flora classified whale sharks as “vulnerable to
extinction.”

’s quota in 2006 was 60 whale sharks; this year, the government
cut it to 30. Taiwanese fishermen so far this year have caught 39.
They’ve freed nine to comply with the 30-shark limit, according to the
fisheries agency.

Numbers indicate that whale sharks aren’t thriving.

Shark-watchers at the
Ningaloo
Reef
Marine
Park
in
, for
example, said they’ve seen “one of two” whale sharks daily this year; in
previous years, they cataloged six or seven every day, said

Norman

.

“It’s a really, really critical time right now,”

Norman

said. “Their
current number is such that we really can’t sit on our hands.”

The big fish are “iconic species,” said Jason Holmberg, an
Oregon

researcher who has studied whale sharks in
and the
.
“They are gentle giants, the ’safe’ shark,” said Holmberg, who cheered
’s decision.

They’re also pretty tasty.

Monday night, at the Really Good Seafood restaurant in downtown

Taipei

,
a plate of whale shark stir-fried with garlic shoots sold for about $12.
Restaurant manager Kuo Yaoming said the meal- also called “tofu shark”
for its soft, white flesh - is not as popular as it once was.

“Now, more Taiwanese want to protect the environment,” he said.

Other nations feel similarly protective. The
, where locals used
oil from whale sharks’ livers to treat boat hulls, forbade whale shark
fishing in 1995. In 1998, the
put an end to the practice.
followed in 2001.

Yet the ban is not worldwide; whale sharks can still be taken for food
or display from some nations’ waters, said Holmberg. The

government for example, might agree to export a whale shark, he said.

But the ban still helps, Holmber said. “A lot of conservationists,” he
said, “feel that now is the time for whale sharks.”

Craig Simons reported from

Taipei

. Mark Davis from

Atlanta

.

We at the EAWST continue to strive toward achieving the same result for Kenya.

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Category: Uncategorized | Date: Oct 08 2007 | By: admin

Sorry for the few days silence everyone! 12 puppies have kept me away from my computer, running a maternity/neo-natal kennel! We are busy in a whale shark workshop making whale shark carvings from sustainable wood. There is a huge industry along the coast and indeed all over Kenya in wood carvings. We insist on using only sustainable wood and encourage tradesmen to carry on this trend for all carvings that they do. We are still experimenting with different sizes and shapes and at the moment are using a local project for the disabled to come up with some sample whale shark carvings.

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Category: Uncategorized | Date: Oct 05 2007 | By: admin

We have written a collection of short stories for children about a whale shark called Shuari. “Shuari” is the word used by the local people to describe the sea when it is calm and flat. We are hoping to get it published soon. In the meantime I may put some excerpts on this blog! Today however we are completely dedicated to the original Shuari (a rottweiler not a whale shark and incidentally the inspiration behind the title of the book) because she had 12 beautiful puppies last night! We also received our new Tshirts, pictured below next to our tyre covers - please feel welcome to order them either by contacting me on this blog or through our website www.giantsharks.org The sale of our mrechandise goes straight back into the running of the project.

Thank you!

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Category: Uncategorized | Date: Oct 04 2007 | By: admin

Smiling in the sunshine Steve (Watamu Turtle Watch), Volker (EAWST), Simon and Stu (both from Camps International/Camp Kenya) hold up a turtle made from recycled flip flops and plastic bags. Here’s to collaboration!

Today was mostly spent planning the art exhibition with our volunteer Simon. Our new Tshirts arrived as well - pics to follow!

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Category: Uncategorized | Date: Oct 03 2007 | By: admin

This little turtle is estimated to be about a year old and is being cared for by the Watamu Turtle Watch team. Steve had to hold open its wee beak with a stick so that Mary could insert the tube down its throat full of medicine. It was all done very gently and with real expertise.

This is the Rescue Centre and you can see the little turtle being cared for above in the pool behind Volker.

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Category: Uncategorized | Date: Oct 03 2007 | By: admin

We have had the most exciting day with the Watamu Turtle Watch team. We drove along Kenya’s best for 3 hours and were rewarded with a tour around a really impressive, heart-warming project. The Watamu Turtle Watch www.watamuturtles.com protect Kenya’s beaches and sea turtles. The project includes a Net Release Programme, Nest Protection, The Sea Turtle Rescue Centre, Education and Sand Art. We were shown round their turtle rehabilitation centre and watched one sick turtle being tube fed by loving hands. The rehab centre is an array of kidney bean shaped pools where turtles are cared for until hopefully they can be released. Sick and damaged turtles are often brought into the centre by fishermen. We enjoyed their various poster and sign board display as well as their community shop in Watamu village (where I bought a beaded kikapu).

Did you know that turtles are not just a pretty face and clever navigators? They are also amazing divers (something in common with their pals the whale sharks). Leatherback turtles dive down to 990m/3248ft. Olive Ridley turtles manage 287m/940ft and Green turtles go to 110m/360ft. They can hold their breath for about 45 mins underwater and for hours if they are at rest. Under stress turtles can drown in 15 mins.

On the long, dusty and bUmPYYy drive home we talked about the good work Steve Trott and his team in Watamu are doing. Together with Camp Kenya www.campkenya.com we plan to work with Watamu Turtle Watch as we introduce similar turtle initiatives in Diani because sadly turtles get caught in traditionally used nets so often. Please visit their site www.watamuturtles.com and support them. Hopefully they too will have a blog up soon!

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Category: Uncategorized | Date: Oct 02 2007 | By: admin

Everybody remembers the first time they 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.

We are trying to solve the mystery of where the whale sharks go when they seemingly disappear. Recent research shows us that they dive to depths of over 1000 metres where can be less than 8.5 degrees C! It was always thought they spent most of their time at the surface but the same research shows that they spend a considerable amount of time at great depths as well. We hope to start an acoustic tagging programme early next year where we will place receiver beacons at regular intervals along 12km of whale shark hotspots. Every time the whale sharks pass within a certain radius of the receivers their movement will be tracked so eventually we will have a much clearer picture of how faithful they are to the Diani beach area.

We welcome you to get involved and if you would like to know more about this programme please get in touch with us. Doesn’t this close up picture above of a whale shark’s mouth just make you want to know more about the biggest fish in the ocean??!

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Category: Uncategorized | Date: Oct 01 2007 | By: admin

This picture shows a whale shark caught in a net. We don’t know what happened to this particular shark and can only hope that it somehow managed to survive.

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