Mangrol, 20^th November, 2025: The 19th Gujarat Whale Shark Day was celebrated on 20 November at the Mangrol fishing harbour, marking nearly two decades of a unique and collaborative marine conservation initiative on the Gujarat coast. Since its inception in 2007, the event has symbolised the deep-rooted partnership between the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), the Gujarat Forest Department, Tata Chemicals Ltd., and coastal fishing communities who have played a central role in safeguarding the whale shark, Gujarat’s ‘Vhali’ or beloved one.

This year’s celebration brought together diverse stakeholders, including forest officials, community leaders from several fishing villages on the Suarashtra coast, representatives from the Indian Coast Guard, coastal school students, media, and fishermen community members of the Mangrol fishing harbour.

Gujarat Whale Shark Day event in Mangrol

The event was chaired by Shri S. Maniswara Raja, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests, Junagadh Circle, who highlighted the significance of two decades of unwavering conservation commitment along the Gujarat coastline. He emphasised the global relevance of this community-led model and announced plans for an academic workshop to engage students and researchers in exploring new directions for whale shark conservation. The event was welcomed by Shri S. R. Prajapati, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Veraval, who acknowledged the long-standing support of partner organisations and the fisher communities.

Mr. B. M. Praveen Kumar, Manager & Head at WTI, recalled how conservation efforts that began in Gujarat later expanded along India’s west coast due to strong partnerships and community participation. Shri Pankaj Varia, Senior Officer at TCSRD shared his early field experiences and deliberated on the organisation’s continued commitment to the cause. Addressing the audience, Shri Saumendra Patodiya, Deputy Commandant of the Indian Coast Guard Station–Veraval, outlined the Coast Guard’s role in marine protection and reaffirmed their operational support to whale shark conservation across the region.

A notable highlight of the programme was a cultural dance and song performance by students of Parmesh Vidhyalaya, who presented the traditional ‘Kharvo Khalasi’, a depiction of the Kharva fishing community’s maritime heritage. Adding to the sense of pride, veteran community leader Shri Dhansukhbhai Premjibhai Gosiya spoke about the transformative journey of the fishing community from earlier unawareness that led to whale shark hunting, to becoming proud custodians of one of India’s most successful marine conservation stories.

Coastal clean-up drive in Mangrol, Gujarat during Whale Shark Day, 2025

A coastal rally through Mangrol harbour and beach clean-up were also carried out by over 150 students from Paresh Vidhyalaya, to promote marine awareness.  Another notable highlight of the event was the life-sized inflatable whale shark symbolising the gentle giant whose conservation has unified Gujarat’s coastal communities for over twenty years.

This collective effort has resulted in over a 1,000 whale sharks being safely released from accidental fishing net entanglements between 2004 and June 2025, an achievement made possible through the government’s support, including compensation for damaged nets, recently enhanced to a maximum of INR 50,000. Satellite tagging of 11 whale sharks under the project has revealed their long-distance migrations and the presence of neonates off Gujarat’s coast, indicating the area’s importance as a breeding ground.

Gujarat Whale Shark Day Rally in Mangrol Harbour

Gujarat remains the only state in India to celebrate a dedicated Whale Shark Day, honouring an endangered species whose global population continues to decline. The event reinforced the message that sustained community-based conservation, supported by strong institutional partnerships, is key to ensuring a safe future for the world’s largest fish.