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15/07/2007: "WHALE SHARK ..... "Stunning" black and white photograph"
The spots are accentuated with high speed mono film. This was at Exmouth, Western Australia - a location I once told Stan Waterman was good for large numbers of these harmless sharks. Some years later a National Geographic sponsored expedition confirmed Exmouth to be a reliable base for whale shark observations. Since then an industry has developed during the months April until about July.
An untapped opportunity exists on the east coast of Taiwan (Republic of China) for a similar tourism opportunity. A limited number of whale sharks are allowed to be caught by the fishermen up there each year, about 30 sharks, each valued at about US$10,000 for seafood.
Scuba diving is a new sport in Taiwan R.O.C. Excellent advanced diving potential exists at two offshore islands with strong currents and blue water. The magnificent inshore east coast is influenced by river run-off and subsequent silt. The scenery is much like some Hawaiian islands
An export for live whale sharks has developed in Taiwan. Such an opportunity will not occur in Australia where we have protected this migrating species. Our oceanariums also would be not permitted to catch and display such magnificent creatures, whereas there are two on show at the Okinawa Oceanarium and two (soon to be four) in an Atlanta GA aquarium.
What do you think? Should we be allowed to display whale sharks in Australian aquariums?
July 17 2007
Just saw your whale shark blog. They should not be caught for viewing in public aquaria, instead should be observed in their natural habitat.
The inhabitants of the Philippine town of Donsol, Sorsogon province, located in the Bicol region on the main island of Luzon's southeast tip, have been doing this ecotourism business of whale shark watching for local & foreign tourists for the last few years, to their benefit. (This was) after being advised on the benefits of not killing/harvesting Rhincodon typus for food.
They're doing what Western Australia has been doing for quite some time. Whale sharks do not survive very long in captivity. (Walter Ty)
