Whale Shark records and conservation status in Venezuela

Abstract

Biodiversity welcomes this paper from Aldemaro Romero (an aquatic biologist with over 20 years of research experience, especially in the Caribbean area), A. Ignacio Agudo (a biologist who has been studying marine fauna off the coasts of Venezuela for the past 12 years), and Cristina Salazar (a biology and environmental studies graduate interested in the application of Geographic Information System [GIS] technology to conservation biology research). They have compiled the records of Whale Shark sightings seen in Venezuelan waters over a 51-year period. Although the sightings are relatively rare, only 20 in this time period, they appear to reflect a geographical distribution that is congruent with areas and periods of high productivity. There is also evidence that this species is being occasionally harpooned or accidentally netted. Based on this preliminary study and on the Precautionary Principle, the authors propose that the Whale Shark be classified as Vulnerable within Venezuelan waters. They also propose long-term population and behavioural studies to track individual animals to provide an accurate picture of the distribution and abundance of Rhincodon typus.