Whale Shark Populations On The Rise In Australia
By Jason Heller, May 1, 2009 @ 01:00 AM (EST)
Source: News.com.au
Populations of the world's largest fish, the whale shark, are increasing at WA's Ningaloo Reef, scientists report.
Researchers made the discovery using an online photo-identification technology called ECOCEAN which they used to track the sharks around the world.
The system works by encouraging members of the public to submit photos of whale sharks to the library’s database.
Scientists then identify the fish using pattern-recognition software which is then used to illustrate the whale sharks migratory habits.
More than 500 new whale sharks, considered vulnerable, have been discovered at Ningaloo reef since the project first began in 1993.
The team’s findings have been published in the journal Endangered Species Research (ESR).
Whale sharks migrate up to 12,000km and prior to the 1980s there had been only 350 confirmed sightings of the giant fish.
In some countries whale sharks are still harvested commercially.
Lead author on the ESR study Jason Holmberg says smaller whale sharks have also been discovered feeding at the reef during the study.
“Why are more and more juveniles arriving on the reef? It’s unclear, but it’s positive news,” Mr Holmberg said...
Researchers made the discovery using an online photo-identification technology called ECOCEAN which they used to track the sharks around the world.
The system works by encouraging members of the public to submit photos of whale sharks to the library’s database.
Scientists then identify the fish using pattern-recognition software which is then used to illustrate the whale sharks migratory habits.
More than 500 new whale sharks, considered vulnerable, have been discovered at Ningaloo reef since the project first began in 1993.
The team’s findings have been published in the journal Endangered Species Research (ESR).
Whale sharks migrate up to 12,000km and prior to the 1980s there had been only 350 confirmed sightings of the giant fish.
In some countries whale sharks are still harvested commercially.
Lead author on the ESR study Jason Holmberg says smaller whale sharks have also been discovered feeding at the reef during the study.
“Why are more and more juveniles arriving on the reef? It’s unclear, but it’s positive news,” Mr Holmberg said...
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