Whale Shark Tagging Expedition off Kenya Coast
In Mombasa, Kenya, there is a popular saying that if you have not sampled shark meat, you probably have never been to the East African coast. But it could well be a belief because I have seen people go to great lengths to afford a dish; it is a very expensive delicacy. But that is a story for another day. Let us focus on the whale shark, which is making all the news in that part of the world.
An ongoing satellite tagging expedition to the ecosystem of the world’s biggest fish is a mix of both adventure and science. I rue missing this whale shark census expedition, running from February 18 to March 2, conducted in a safari setting!
Dr. Brent Stewart, a marine biologist at the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute in San Diego, California, is conducting the expedition with local collaboration from the East African Whale Shark Trust (EAWST) to study the ecology of whale sharks along the Kenyan coast. Local experts, Volker Bassen and Nimu Njonjo, have ensured public participation in the annual project at a small fee; this adds to the adventure in research and education and a huge exciting step for Kenya’s marine ecology conservation efforts.
For a snorkelers’ fee of USD 90 and a divers’ fee of USD 125, one can meet the scientists and underwater videographers and join in on the daily whale shark safaris. One can as well watch the research team tag the fish and get an opportunity to swim with the whale sharks!
The whale sharks can be sighted everyday and an adventure boat is guided to the sharks by a spotter plane in a 4 hour whale shark safari that promises an exhilarating experience even for ocean-phobic tourists like yours truly. Yes, I have lived on the coastline nearly all my life, but to venture deep into the sea, get down underwater and mix with all manner of creatures, including the beautiful-to-look-at whale shark, gives me a lot of cringe imaginations, and it doesn’t matter the whale shark is entirely harmless to humans. But just for the adrenaline!
The USD 5000 satellite tags are attached to the whale shark’s 15cm thick skin using a sling-type Hawaiian spear gun and are equipped with a chip programmed to transmit data via satellite. This data includes date, time, dive profile, ambient light, ambient pressure, location (every time the shark surfaces), salinity level of its surrounding and temperature. The whale sharks are also fitted with streamer tags - similar bracelets that the whale sharks wear for identity.
Whale sharks are mostly seen on the surface hence divers and snorkelers can swim with this gentle, curious creature while watching the research teams go through the delicate tagging process. The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is an elusive, highly migratory oceanic fish that occasionally ventures to a handful of coastlines.
The exercise is aimed at increasing protection afforded to the biggest fish in the ocean which have been a target globally for their valuable fins and liver. The East African Whale Shark Trust aims to provide a research center for collecting and analyzing data on the local whale shark population, its habits and movements.
Resources and further reading:
East African Whale Shark Trust, Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, Dr. Brent Stewart’s Blog, Florida Museum of Natural History
Photo Credits:
1. Steve Collins via Flickr, 2. East African Standard
