US EditionNearly 80% of whale sharks in this marine tourism hotspot have human-caused scars
Researchers found 80.6% of injured whale sharks in Bird's Head Seascape suffer human-related wounds, mainly from fishing platforms and boats, urging protective measures to reduce harm.
- An international group of researchers showed 62% of whale sharks in the Bird's Head Seascape bear human-caused scars; they identified 268 sharks, 98% sighted in Cenderawasih Bay and Kaimana, with results published Thursday in Frontiers in Marine Science.
- Collisions with bagans and whale shark-watching tour boats caused 80.6% of injuries on 206 sharks recorded, with mostly minor abrasions, researchers said.
- Researchers analyzed 13-year survey data from Cenderawasih Bay, Kaimana, Raja Ampat, and Fakfak, finding most juvenile whale sharks were males and roughly 200 sharks had visible injuries.
- Researchers recommended bagans modifications to remove sharp edges and urged limiting boat traffic with slow-speed zones to protect whale sharks, Dr Mark Erdmann said.
- Conservationists note whale sharks are endangered on the IUCN Red List, with populations declining over 50% globally and slow recovery due to a 30-year maturity period.
35 Articles
35 Articles
Whale sharks are with the largest fish and are strongly endangered. A study shows that almost 77 percent of animals in an Indonesian tourist area carry injuries or scars. Researchers demand protective measures to save the species.
Why most whale sharks in Indonesia are scarred by humans
Whale sharks in Indonesia are suffering widespread injuries, with a majority scarred by human activity. Researchers found bagans and boats to be the biggest threats, especially as shark tourism grows. Protecting these gentle giants may be as simple as redesigning fishing gear and boat equipment.
Nearly 80% of whale sharks in this marine tourism hotspot have human-caused scars
Whale sharks, the largest living fish species, are classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Over the past 75 years, populations have declined by more than 50% worldwide, and by up to 63% in the Indo-Pacific region. Because whale sharks take up to 30 years to become sexually mature, populations can only recover slowly from threats like hunting for fins, meat, and oil, habitat loss, and entanglement in fishing nets.
They scrape along boats, fins are cut off: numerous whale sharks in an Indonesian marine area have injuries due to human activities.
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op-online.deThey scrape along boats, fins are cut off: numerous whale sharks in an Indonesian marine area have injuries due to human activities. In doing so, there would be simple measures.
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