Whale Shark Tourism Research Articles

Whale shark habitat assessments in the northeastern Arabian Sea using satellite remote sensing

One of the major requirements for the growing whale shark tourism industry is to identify potential areas of their aggregation for sighting. This would require baseline information on the occurrence of whale shark and the associated environment. In this context, the relationship between whale shark landings, phytoplankton concentration and sea surface temperature (SST) in the continental shelf and offshore regions of Gujarat coast were examined using satellite data from 1998 to 2000. Monthly images of chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentration, an index of phytoplankton biomass and SST were derived for the eastern Arabian Sea from the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) and National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration-Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (NOAA-AVHRR), respectively. Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) landing data were obtained from a survey conducted by Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna In Commerce (Traffic)-India of the World Wide Fund (WWF)-India and the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), India. Mean chl-a concentration in the study area (between 20–22° N and 69–70° E) covering the continental shelf and adjoining offshore region of coast (depth > 25 m) was observed to be significantly higher (4.23 mg m−3 in February and 3.88 mg m−3 in March) compared to regions seaward of the study area (mean of 1.51 mg m−3 for February and 1.16 mg m−3 for March) and in southern latitudes of the eastern Arabian Sea (mean of 0.27 mg m−3 for February and 0.23 mg m−3 for March). The SST in the study area ranged from 23–26°C for February and March, whereas in the southern latitudes, it ranged from 27–29°C. The SST in regions outside the study area was marginally warmer by 0.5°C. A significant relationship between whale shark landings off Gujarat, chl-a concentration and SST was observed. Results presented in this study contribute to the idea that the combined use of ocean colour and SST images are an appropriate tool to identify potential areas of whale shark aggregation for sightings.

Consolidation in a wildlife tourism industry: the changing impact of whale shark tourist expenditure in the Ningaloo coast region

AbstractIn this paper, we examine the expenditure of whale shark tour participants at Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia; the location of the world's first whale shark tourism industry, established in 1989. We demonstrate that in 2006, participants' expenditure in the region was $894 per trip, total expenditure was $6.0 million (all figures are in Australian dollars), and between $2.4 and $4.6 million would have been lost to the region if whale shark tourism did not exist. Our measure of participants' expenditure is substantially lower than the calculation of $2370 per participant from a previous study of whale shark tourists using data collected in 1995. We argue that this is consistent with a change in the types of wildlife tourists that participate in an activity as the industry reaches the point of consolidation. Our results also suggest that using old data to forecast wildlife tourists' expenditure needs to take into account the industry's stage of development. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Whale shark tourism at Ningaloo Marine Park: A longitudinal study of wildlife tourism

This article demonstrates the changes that occur due to the maturation of a wildlife tourism industry through the application of a Wildlife Tourism Framework. Specifically, in 2005 survey data was collect from participants of whale shark tourism at Ningaloo Marine Park in Western Australia, facilitating a direct comparison with a study conducted a decade earlier. The results conformed with predictions by the Framework, in particular, a shift in the industry towards the mainstream from the periphery. In comparison with the past, whale shark tourism at Ningaloo now attracts more generalist tourists who place different preferences on the whale shark tourism experience. There is now a greater distribution of age groups; less skilled individuals; a higher tolerance to crowding; and a larger focus on the non-wildlife components of the experience. Furthermore, this article, discusses the pertinent management implications associated with this shift.

Expenditure and ecotourism: predictors of expenditure for whale shark tour participants

Whale shark tourism is an icon industry in Western Australia and a prominent example of successful ecotourism. In 2006, whale shark tour participants spent $6.0 million in the Ningaloo Coast region of Western Australia and added between $2.4 million and $4.6 million to the regional economy in direct expenditure. However, to date no research has been conducted on the predictors of whale shark tour participants' expenditure. In this article, we assess the importance of visitor expenditure for ecotourism, assess the predictors of the expenditure of whale shark tour participants and discuss how this information can contribute towards ecotourism goals. The data analysed here were collected through a survey distributed to participants between April and June 2006. We assess a range of variables for their relationship to individual expenditure per trip and determine that the duration of stay, household income, age, staying in a hotel, trip motivation and being from North America or Southeast Asia positively correlate with individual expenditure per trip. Group size and originating from Germany or the United Kingdom and Ireland negatively correlate with expenditure. In addition to identifying future steps, we also discuss the relevance of our finding that more motivated participants have a higher expenditure for ecotourism.

Whale Sharks of the Western Caribbean: An Overview of Current Research and Conservation Efforts and Future Needs for Effective Management of the Species

Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are seasonal visitors to four sites in the Western Caribbean, 3 of which are encompassed by the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. Predictable encounters with the world's largest fish have raised this species' profile globally and led to several research and conservation efforts that aim to elucidate the need for information for the species management and balance the growing demand for highly lucrative encounter tourism. Tagging studies have demonstrated that the whale shark population is relatively small and likely forms a single population. Individuals move throughout the region between 3 of 4 known feeding sites and are capable of timing their movements to pulses of productivity. Whale shark tourism's dramatic growth has led to a range of protective measures and scientific studies both precautionary and reactionary that require better harmonization throughout the region to be effective. This paper will provide an overview of the status of whale shark research and conservation efforts in the Western Caribbean and identify future management needs to minimize anthropogenic impacts and enable continued whale shark visitation at key feeding sites.

Assessing the size, growth rate and structure of a seasonal population of whale sharks ( Rhincodon typus Smith 1828) using conventional tagging and photo identification

Population size and structure of whale sharks ( Rhincodon typus) remain unknown despite their economic importance to targeted tourism and fisheries and their 2002 listing on CITES Appendix II. Here, we present results from the first whale shark population study in the Western Hemisphere and describe the inherent difficulties of assessing populations using catch-independent methods in free-ranging sharks. From 1998 to 2003, we identified 106 whale sharks using their distinctive scars and spot patterns following 521 encounters at a predictable seasonal aggregation on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef linked to snapper spawning aggregations at Gladden Spit, Belize. Encountered sharks measured a mean total length of 6.3 m ± 1.7 m S.D. and a range of 3.0–12.7 m ( n = 317). Sexual and size segregation is suggested: 31% of encountered sharks ( n = 162) were sexed, of which 86% were immature males. Between 1999 and 2002, 70 sharks were tagged with 72 conventional tags and measured sharks ( n = 63) possessed a mean length of 6.0 m ± 1.6 m S.D. (range 3.0–9.7 m). Growth rates for three resighted sharks ranged from an estimated 0.03–0.70 m year −1. Resightings of tagged sharks elsewhere on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef indicate that the population is not resident at Gladden Spit and is shared with two other sites possessing seasonal aggregations: Isla Contoy, Mexico and Utila, Honduras. Monitoring whale shark populations at Gladden Spit and the other aggregation sites on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef underpins the region's lucrative and burgeoning whale shark tourism and is key to their local and international conservation.

Whale Shark Tourism in Ningaloo Marine Park, Australia

ABSTRACTInteractions between tourists and marine animals have become increasingly popular in recent years. Since 1993 a new tourism industry, based on swimming with whale sharks, has developed in Ningaloo Marine Park, off the coast of Western Australia. This is the only known, accessible place in the world where whale sharks congregate in significant numbers. Certain results from surveys of participants in the ‘whale shark experience,’ undertaken in 1995 and 1996, are reported, with a focus on management questions relating to human-to-shark separation distances, swimmers making contact with sharks, satisfaction with the experience, and the numbers of swimmers in the water. While the rules on separation distances were changed between the years, statistical analyses indicate that satisfaction with the experience did not change (F(1,671)=1.25, p>0.05). Resulting from the rule changes, swimmers did not get so close to sharks in 1996 (F(1,671)=273.41, p<0.05), nor were they as concerned about the number of other people in the water (F(1,671)=16.10, p<0.05). It is concluded that a simple change to the regulation on separation distances resulted in improved human experiences and potentially less interference with the animals.

Whale sharks in Ningaloo Marine Park: managing tourism in an Australian marine protected area

The whale shark is the largest fish in the ocean. A tourism industry based on interacting with whale sharks has developed recently in Ningaloo Marine Park, off the coast of Western Australia. This is the only known, accessible place in the world where whale sharks congregate in significant numbers. Results from surveys of participants in the ‘whale shark experience’ are reported, with the experience found to be extremely satisfying for most consumers. Yet management questions relating to diver-to-shark separation distances, the appropriate number of operators, and the use of regulation, self-regulation and economic instruments, remain. The nexus between experiential aspects of the whale shark attraction and such management concerns is examined, and the usefulness of appropriate research in resolving management questions established. It is concluded that a judicious combination of management approaches is required to ensure the sustainable development of the whale shark tourism industry.