Letter on whale shark research

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.