Save the Whale Shark – Karnataka, Kerala, and Lakshadweep

The Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest fish on earth growing to approximately 18 m in length and weighing as much as 21 metric tons. Although widely distributed across tropical and warm temperate seas, limited information is available on the population trends of this species, especially along the Indian coastline.

Global status

Unregulated fishing practices to meet international trade demands for fins, liver oil, skin, and meat, accidental entanglement in fishing nets, collision with boats as well as extensive coastal pollution are attributes as major threats to whale sharks. IUCN reports that whale shark populations are decreasing and its global status is ‘Endangered’.

Whale Sharks (WS) in India

The WS is found all along the Indian coast. However, the biggest whale shark aggregation is known from the coast of Gujarat. Based on a survey, five whale shark aggregations have been reported till date on the Indian coastline. For the protection of this big fish, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) with eminent filmmaker Mike Pandey (with his Panda Award winning – Green Oscar – film, Shores Of Silence) lobbied with the Indian Government. In 2001, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) listed the Whale Shark in Schedule I of the Indian Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, giving the species the highest level of protection. Efforts by India and Philippines in lobbying for the protection of the species among international groups paid off in the year 2003, the fish was included under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna, and Flora (CITES).

Dignitaries with the Inflatable mascot at Milagres Hall Complex at Mangalore, Karnataka; Photo by Madhumay Mallik

Conservation Background

A WTI survey in 2004 revealed that awareness levels among fishers on poaching and the protected status of Whale Sharks to be as low as 19% in Gujarat, the hub of the Whale Shark fisheries. A campaign to save the WS was launched in 2004 by WTI to build awareness of its protected status and stop illegal killings among the local fishing community. Save the Whale Shark Campaign was launched as a multi-pronged campaign. The campaign used a life-sized inflatable model, street plays, painting competitions in schools, fetes with the Whale Shark conservation theme, an educational film, and public events with the support of a popular religious leader.

Whale Shark conservation along the Gujarat coast was a great success. The intentional killing of the whale sharks ceased at the start of this project. Further, fishers have voluntarily rescued and released 851 accidentally entangled whale sharks from fishing nets. This project was one of the successful projects where the Public-Private partnership for marine megafauna conservation yielded the best result with the active support of the community participation.

Inflatable mascot at Milagres Hall Complex; Photo by Madhumay Mallik

Save the Whale Shark Campaign –Kerala & Lakshadweep Island

The Gujarat whale shark conservation project also tried to understand the movement pattern of this migratory fish using satellite tracking. It was evident that whale shark was using the territorial waters of other coastal states and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of other bordering countries in the Arabian Sea. This information was important because other coastal states were not practicing whale shark-friendly fishing methods. To safeguard a fish that moves a large distance requires the cooperation of coastal states coastal communities and various government departments.

Acknowledging this need, WTI with the support of IUCN conducted a survey along the West coast (excluding Gujarat), during 2012-13 and found that the highest number of WS sightings (after Gujarat coast) were near the Lakshadweep waters (28% response from fishers). Literature survey shows that WS landings and strandings are largely reported from Kerala. Fishers of Kerala often go to Lakshadweep waters to fish and the high incidental landings can be attributed to this fact.

WTI initiated a Whale Shark conservation project along Kerala & Lakshadweep Island with the support of Cochin Shipyard Ltd in 2017. Just over a year after the project started, in 2018 the first-ever Whale Shark was rescued and released by fishers of North Kerala (Malapuram). This was a great achievement for the project. The second WS rescue from Kerala was recorded in January 2020. Fishers of Calicut rescued and released accidentally caught WS.

Whale Shark Campaign Launch Mangalore, Karnataka; Photo by Madhumay Mallik

Save the Whale Shark Campaign along Karnataka, Kerala, and Lakshadweep

The conservation efforts along the various states have assured safety for the WS, but the actions have to be extended across the coasts of India. To assure the imminent safety, WTI has launched the “Save the Whale Shark Campaign along Karnataka, Kerala, and Lakshadweep” in 2022 along with ORACLE India Pvt. Ltd. The project aims to address the threats to the WS such as accidental entanglement and reduction in pollution.  To curb the accidental entanglement WTI is partnering with the Fisheries Department, Department, and the Fishers association of the relevant states.

The rising plastic debris in our oceans is large-scale environmental pollution impacting the marine fauna negatively over the years. The WS is a filter feeder, owing to its feeding strategies, they are peculiarly susceptible to this threat.  To address this, WTI is collaborating with the communities to make the sea a cleaner abode for the fish.

PARTNER: ORACLE India Pvt. Ltd.

PROJECT LEAD: Saymanti B (po.campaigns@wti.org.in)