Dear Editor,
Although somewhat disappointed with the misinterpretation of the work being carried out by our research programme, the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP) would like to thank all for expressing their opinions and concerns. We would like to take this opportunity to address some of those here.
Because whale sharks spend so much of their lives far from our range of detecting and observing them, tagging and telemetry is a key tool for learning about the basic biology, movements, and habitat needs of these elusive animals. This information is critical for conserving, protecting and managing whale sharks and the various elements of the marine ecosystems that they travel through and feed and reproduce in. The objective of the project is to obtain and provide this information to the Maldivian government agencies that have authority for managing marine resources and to the Maldivian public, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders who have interests in using and maintaining vital marine ecosystems throughout the Maldives archipelago.
Preliminary results from the tagging program have emphasised the logic and importance of this approach. It has revealed that whale sharks that spend at least parts of their lives in the Maldives are highly mobile, travelling vast distances and sometimes into unprotected waters on the high seas and other states where they can be vulnerable to fishing and fining attempts.
A large part of the MWSRP’s tagging project is to monitor the behaviour of individual sharks before and after being tagged (both of tagged and untagged individuals). If there was any evidence that the tagging program was having either chronic or acute impacts on individual whale sharks or the group of whale sharks that occurs in Maldivian waters we would terminate it. There is no evidence of adverse effects to individual whale sharks or whale shark abundance owing to the tagging activities of the past two years. Indeed observations and systematic data indicate that there have not been any adverse effects.
Whale sharks have been routinely observed again by us, colleagues, tour boat operators, and resort dive operators within minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years after being tagged. Contrary to claims of some, we have not tagged any sharks at South Ari Atoll since May of 2009; in part to avoid the intense and busy tourist activity along Maamigili Reef in December and January.
The tagging is monitored by the government ministries who supply all relevant permits. All information received from the tags is readily shared within this collaboration. It has been and will continue to be frequently distributed to local dive centers, liveaboards, resorts, local islands and peer-reviewed forums.
In consideration of concerns from stakeholders, the MWSRP, in conjunction with the Government, is limiting (2009 -2010) the number of sharks tagged at Maamigili Reef and in the FenMaaDhiguRan Marine Protected Area. The MWSRP is working with colleagues elsewhere in the Maldives archipelago to tag sharks in other areas, and continuing an active outreach and education program with communities throughout the Maldives to inform them about whale sharks generally to objectively respond to questions and perceptions about tags, tagging methods, and findings.
In response to claims that whale shark abundance or encounters have declined in South Ari Atoll and claims that such declines have been caused by the tagging program, we would be interested and eager to review the data on which these claims are based and the methods that have been used to obtain those data. The MWSRP has encountered just over 20% more whale sharks in December 2009-January 2010 compared with December 2008-January 2009, including many sharks (tagged and untagged) observed during the past several years.
There are many possible reasons why whale sharks may aggregate in certain areas – spatially variable plankton blooms and patterns of local persistence of these whale shark prey are clearly important factors and have explained variability in the number, frequency, and location of whale shark sightings in South Ari Atoll and elsewhere
The whale shark research being conducted in ‘peak season’ (December 2009/January 2010) involves simply making photographs of whale sharks and observations of the sex, degree of scarring, and length of each shark (www.mwsrp.org/research).
The MWSRP invites any and all parties with concerns about ‘the methodology used in tagging’ to contact them. The tags and methods being used have been developed and tested to prevent adverse effects to individual whale sharks or their local abundance and have been subjected to public and government rigorous scrutiny in the United States, Australia, the Philippines and in Kenya where our collaborators have worked previously and are continuing studies in collaboration with other parties including the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
We think that active and continued dialogue with all stakeholders is important for the communication of and response to claims and perceptions. Despite existing on very limited resources the MWSRP prides itself on dedicating a large proportion of its time actively engaging and working with local communities in South Ari Atoll and throughout the Maldives. Our ultimate objective is for the MWSRP to become managed and run by Maldivians.
Ongoing initiatives include giving regular presentations in the area about the whale shark research and conservation and conducting school trips to the whale shark aggregation area. Pupil exchanges between local schools and schools in Qatar and the UK have also been arranged for later this year.
The Adopt a shark scheme has been set up as a way of acknowledging donations to the charity. A visitor “adopting” a shark is not purchasing or taking ownership of an animal they are purely making a donation to the charity and in return the donors receive an update whenever their chosen shark is encountered. This is a common mechanism used by wildlife conservation charities worldwide as a way of raising awareness and funding for conservation initiatives for a variety of animals. The money raised using this mechanism is currently being used to set up a pupil exchange programme with schools within the FenMaaDhiguran MPA and schools in Qatar and the UK.
As for the commercialization concerns we would like to emphasise that we are a registered non-profit charity and all MWSRP researchers are unpaid volunteers. The support we gratefully receive from the Conrad Maldives is in-kind and extends to a vessel and accommodation. In return we train and assist local excursion guides in conducting whale shark tours two days a week. This gives us a valuable insight into the experiences of tour operators and guests alike and gives us further opportunity to educate both parties about whale shark encounter best practice.
We hope this list of points goes someway to addressing some of the concerns expressed recently in Minivan news and the Bluepeace blog. We welcome all further questions. Please email [email protected].
Respectfully,
The MWSRP team
(0)Dislikes
(0)Related Posts
State failing to prove ‘Usfasgandu’ lease terms violated: Mayor ‘Maizan’ Ali Manik
New High Commissioner to Malaysia nominated- Comment: Reflections after the alcohol crisis
“We call on the police and the army to pledge allegiance to the Vice President”: Umar Naseer, Jan 31
Main suspect in Dr Afrasheem’s murder case denies charges
President nominates Uz Ahmed Faiz Hussain as chief justice
We know it is more than the MWSRP that have been attacked,Deva resort had heavy dive weights thrown at their guests and other tourists have been attacked by one of these trouble making dive boats. Is this being investigated?
as a maldivian who is feeding his family off the tourism dollars, i ask you to terminate your research and respectfully leave the maldives immediately.
we have been living with these creatures for centuries and if we were such a cruel people for marine life, you will only be doing research on whale shark fossils, like they do on dinosaurs.
you have been accusing maldivians of chasing whale sharks from our seas in international media, which will hurt our tourism industry more than the disappearance of whale sharks from our waters. so, do keep in mind that the boat crew and many maldivians who feed our families by showing these creatures to visiting tourists, will not sit around as long as we believe YOU are the real threat to OUR whale sharks.
The more effectively the MPA is being monitored and kept under control, the more "tourism dollars" can be gained from snorkelers and divers.
I am also waiting for the ones who blame the researchers for chasing whalesharks by tagging to
1) show methodology of evaluation &
2) scientific results of their observations.
Otherwise it's like saying, 'The reason why swine flu is spreading is because humans eat pigs'.
Good luck to the MWSRP for their valuable research!
What whale shark, whale shark!
When we have enough Maldivian scientists who can conduct research on whale sharks, we will do research on whale sharks.
For the time being, we neither want foreign conservationists no research on whale sharks. Because the current research project has done more harm than good for Maldivians, the researchers may be asked to conduct their research elsewhere in the world. I am sure Maldives is not the only country where you can find whale sharks.
So it would be better if the government can cancel all permits and also visas for the foreigners of MWSRP and halt the so called research work immediately.
Well, there you go. If the comments here are any indication of the entire population, we Maldivians are a bunch of xenophobic idiots!
Yup, we sure need those tourists and their dollars, 'cos we need to buy the latest flat screen tv, mobile phone, etc. God forbid that we do an honest day's work.
To all the Robins and Mohameds, can you name any Maldivian scientists who are trained, capable, and willing to conduct whale shark or any marine research?
Stop this hostility! It's embarrasing and not helpful to solving the real issue here - which seems to be the protection of whale sharks while providing/mainting the jobs of those who rely on whale sharks to earn a living.
(By the way, NO ONE owns the whale sharks or any marine life! That's just silly to assume that!)
At least the MWSRP team is being professional and transparent about their methodology and willing to communicate to solve this issue without resolving to verbal slandering and personal attacks.
Unfortunately the reality is that Maldives needs outside expertise and support for research and education. (Why is this so is a whole different matter.)
If our local divers are so knowledgable about whale sharks why aren't they spreading this knowledge and why is it that MWSRP are doing research in the Maldives?
I do agree that the government should take seriously the local knowledge but it should also encourage ways to combine the scientific research to bring the best outcome - for whom though? But here with lies the problem...How do you find a solution that has to take into account the economics, sustainability, jobs, individual pride, greed, science and nature, closemindedness, and a population suspicious of their government?
All I know is, if the likes of closeminded-xenophobic-misinformed-Robins and fired-up knife weilding safari crews keep reacting aggresively to foreign support, and as long as our government sidelines local knowledge and don't monitor how their regulations are being implemented, and as long as our new reports are biased, as is being claimed, then we will be sabotaging our livelihoods, our economy and our natural environment.
To K,
Did I say we have "Maldivian scientists who are trained, capable, and willing to conduct whale shark or any marine research"?
You accused me of being misinformed (and many more things). You could not get yourself informed of a few simple paragraphs that I wrote here.
"...closeminded-xenophobic-misinformed-Robins..."
Ahem.
I may be all of those. Or I may be none of them. I will leave it to you though to figure out.
My question is:
What is the overall benefit the Maldives get out of this so called research programme?
My impression is that this research work is a hindrance to tourism. The research team is tagging sharks. Do we need the sharks to be tagged to watch them at Ari Atoll?
No.
Do the research team disturb the locals and others of the tourism industry who may be making an income out of these sharks?
Yes.
Why then, do we need to go ahead with something that is of no real benefit to Maldives?
Dear Robin (who proclaims he/she isn't misinformed/xenophobic/close-minded),
Kindly explain to us how the tagging is disturbing "the locals and others of the tourism industry"? Some of the locals haven't made a good impression by threatening people with knives and throwing weights.
And how do you know whether we wont get any real benefit from research?
Excuse me, but I would call your statements the epitome of close-mindedness.
Now this is interesting, Cuckoo.
Did I proclaim that I am not "misinformed/xenophobic/close-minded"?
Let me be clear.
I am not condoning the actions of knife-wielding safari crews. That is not the way this kind of matters can be solved. They should have complained to the relevant authorities if they have a problem.
Now to your question.
Tagging if not for anything else is disturbing the tourism industry by causing this problem in the first place.
Secondly, the research team's vessel will be an unwanted addition to the already overcrowded state of affairs at the whale shark sighting area.
Now will you tell me one benefit we, Maldivians are getting by tagging these creatures at our waters? I have asked this question a few times.
But no one seems to have an answer.
Robin let me tell you the benefit of tagging...
There are so many things we do not know about the sharks. Here in the maldives, the whale sharks are protected from fishing and hunting and can live in relative peace and security. but it is not the case all over the world. In certain areas, the sharks can still be killed, and tagging provides us with the data to better understand the movements of the sharks and therefore help protect them. The tagging is done by world renowned scientific experts.. what qualifies you to question this?
the effects on the whale sharks are well documented.. over 90% of the sharks tagged are seen again, so how can you say it scares the sharks away?
Anybody who has these kind of worries.. talk to the MWSRP. do you think a permit would be granted if it was scaring away the sharks?
(There seems to be another K here - hello and thank you for answering Robin's Q).
I'm no expert but from what little that I know and have read, tagging (of any animal - and if you watch Nat Geo or Animal Planet you can see it done on many wildlife), if done appropriately under well controlled regulations by experienced practitioners are, as the other K has said, a useful way to learn about animal movement and one of the benefits - in theory - is that it could/should inform policies and regulations such as those that protect the animal AS WELL AS eco-tourism.
Robin, look I apologise if I offended you. Perhaps it was misdirected - it just frustrates me when people jump into conclusions and make rigid black and white statements - and there is quite a few being thrown around on this topic.
Like I implied in my first comment - this is a complex issue and if the governing body the gives permits and makes regulations don't/won't/cannot follow through to ensure their rules are being followed then I guess its natural for stakeholders to lose faith in the system and try and take matters in to their own hands... which won't benefit anyone in the end.
Anyway...now that the taliban are using us as a safe haven, perhaps research scientists aren't the biggest threat to our tourism industry!
That's it from me.
I can tell you many benefits to tagging whale sharks in the Maldives just because I've listened to the MWSRP's briefing. (Maybe you should all talk to them!?!)
The Maldives is home to very few whale sharks (130 so far), they're all sexually immature and they are all male (except for 5 females). Other populations around the world have hundreds of sharks but they're never seen again. So the Maldives is already special and presented with a great opportunity to lead the World in whale shark research and the understanding of them so that tour operators can make money for generations.
So if they're all male, sexually immature and are travelling huge distances into unprotected waters (a fact already learned by the MWSRP's tagging projects). It is imperative that they're protected in the Maldives and in other waters. How do you discover where the sharks go? Through tagging! If you don't know where they go, how can you lobby for protection in other places. If they're not protected in the other waters then they may not come back to the Maldives because they may be hunted.
If they don't come back, and all of the sharks are sexually immature how do they repopulate....the answer - they don't and the whale shark becomes extinct!
And tour operators don't make any money from whale sharks!
First, my observation.
K and Kk and probably Khadeeja (on the original post on knife-wielding crews against MASRP) are all the same person.
You have all talked about how tagging helps to conserve wildlife. I see not one reason why carrying this process inside Maldivian territories give us any direct benefit.
What ever benefit we get from tagging these creatures in our waters will be got had they been tagged elsewhere too.
So why cause such an unpleasantness to the local businesses and continue to do something that is of no direct benefit to us?
Interestin letter from MWSRP - as usualy protecting themselves and trying to prove how important is the work they do-
We have no doubt whatever they do is good for them - BUT sadly its not good for the whalesharks and for us "MALDIVIANS'.
What had been the benefit for us locals in the past 3 yesrs of the tagging?
Why didnt you invlolve any locals in the research program? ( Don't start talking about the few presentationsyou give to some of the safari boats and dhigurah school as a COVER UP).
MWRSP have fundings and donations for their work but when it comes to involve a local - there is NO FUND!! ( what a lame excuse)
Any sensible person can understand TAGGING a moving animal will end up in a lot of mishits and injury to the animal. Those who don't get it - it is similar techinique as spear fishing... So what nonsense is this.
We all know that MWRSP are voluntry charity workers who live in 5 star accomodation - are living only on donation from selling our whalesharks as christmas presents......And when it comes to contribute a little bit fo the charity to a local to take part..."THERE IS NO FUND"...
Guys ... wake up.
We know the whalesharks around Maamigili area / Hani Faru and Gangehi... more than these researchers.
We have been watchin them for yeara and we have our own names for them - unlike the MWRSP who prefers to name them in english ...Nick/Jil ...blah blah....
MWRSP... no matter how hard you try to prove yourselves .... We locals also are more educated now...so we understand whats going on...We are not COCONUT HEADS anymore!!!
Its time to stop fooling around with the whalesharks of the Maldives.... go find somewhere else who can let you live on charity....
Sadly we all cannot be charity workers ...we have a family to look after and toursim is our main income ---- we cannot let you take it away from us.
Thank you for understanding,,,