The Tourism Management Of Whale Shark Tourism Essay

Whale shark ( Rhincodon typus ) belongs to household Rhincodontidae is the largest fish in the universe. It is immense, grows up to 12m in length and perchance 20m entire length ( Stevens J.D. 2007 ) . This filter-feeding shark has a circumglobal distribution in all tropical and warm temperate seas ( Chen et al. 2002 ) . The whale sharks were first described in 1828 by an English physician, Andrew Smith from a specimen harpooned in Table Bay in South Africa. Despite of the widespread distribution throughout the universe, there is a limited cognition of its biological science and ecology ( Colman J.G. 1997 ) . The species has unconditioned biological features like other shark species, monolithic organic structure, slow growing, late ripening and drawn-out length of service. Due to such characteristics, the species are extremely susceptible to development and one time overexploited the populations are really slow to retrieve ( Colman J.G. 1997 ) . There have been figure of brushs with whale sharks due to the turning marine nature-based touristry. Whale sharks in locations such as Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia, the islands of Andaman Sea, Sea of Cortez, and the Galapagos Island have been targeted by assorted commercialized tourer operations. The giant sharks have been stated as ‘endangered ‘ and ‘vulnerable ‘ marine species by the World Conservation Union ‘s Red List of Threatened Animals ( IUCN 1994 ) . Over recent old ages, giant sharks are at possible hazard from piscaries due to increased demand for nutrient merchandises.

This survey includes different facets of the whale sharks ; it ‘s biological & A ; ecological features, the economic importance of the species, the emerging menaces to the sharks and the touristry direction in Ningaloo Marine Park in Western Australia. The touristry industry at Ningaloo Marine Park has grown in popularity. Whale shark is a touristry icon for whole of Western Australia due to its fold in important Numberss. Therefore, the issues and preservation steps are described with regard to Ningaloo Marine Park.

Biology and Ecology

The species is characterised externally by its monolithic organic structure, wide level caput with a big terminal oral cavity, rounded dorsal five and crescent shaped tail with light musca volitanss on forepart as ‘checkerboard ‘ form and chevrons on background ( Figure 1 ) . The typical organic structure form has no known map. Whale sharks have a good ocular development ( Gruber 1977 ) . The typical markers on the organic structure are related to societal activities like copulating shows. Due to such markers, the giant sharks are adapted to radiation shielding and so may screen a fish from UV radiation. The whale shark is really big filter-feeding species that occur in big Numberss in Western Australia.

Figure 1 – Giant Shark ( Rhincodon typus )

Beginning: Adapted from Norman B. et Al, 2007.

Distribution and home ground

The distribution of giant shark is cosmopolitan in nature happening in tropical and temperate seas apart from the Mediterranean in equator 300 North and 350 South. It is found in oceans and shallow coastal seas and besides coral and reefs. The coinage is distributed throughout the Indian Ocean along the Maldives, Comores Islands, South Africa, Kenya, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. As mentioned earlier, in Australia there is a widespread distribution chiefly off northern Western Australia at the Ningaloo reef, the Northern district and Queensland. Figure 2 below shows the planetary distribution of the giant sharks. The whale shark inhabits pelagic home ground and are migratory in nature going 1000s of kilometers over several old ages. The home ground of these sharks can be inshore and offshore. These sharks make frequent perpendicular motions of at least 980m deepness. Furthermore, the diet of whale sharks drives its motions ( WHAFS 2010 ) . The sharks are spotted in Ningaloo by coral spawning after March and April full Moons. Talking about the genteelness nature of giant sharks, like other sharks, the eggs are fertilised inside the organic structure but it is unusual in being ovoviviparous due to the fact that the female gives birth to immature ‘pups ‘ developing from eggs hatched within her womb. The immature shark whelp is about 55cm long at its birth.

Figure 2 – Global distribution of giant shark ( in red )

Beginning: Adapted from Norman B. et Al. 2007

Coming to the unrecorded history of the giant sharks, over last 20 old ages, there has been a important increase in the recreational diving and yachting activities around the universe taking to many finds of whale sharks collections in assorted locations. Due to increased demand of whale shark merchandises has led to marine ecotourism involvement and preservation patterns. However, the cognition of the ecology and biological science of the species is still hapless despite of a clear apprehension of its growing and reproduction so there is still much to larn taking at conserving the species ( Norman B. et Al. 2007 ) .

The biological science and ecology of the species besides throws a visible radiation on its interaction with worlds. In past old ages, there was non much involvement of the species to worlds but due to the characteristic characteristics like soft flesh, high H2O content being revealed by scientific research has put the giant shark at hazard of being exploited. Several surveies have been tagged on giant sharks utilizing conventional and electronic tickets supplying information on its motions and behavior. However, few consequences have been drawn so far in the literature. As the chief country of survey is Ningaloo Park, harmonizing to the literature it has been reported that these sharks swam easy at 0.7ms -1, doing regular dies through the H2O column towards the underside at 70-90m at Ningaloo reef, Western Australia ( Stevens J.D. 2007 ) . However, the hydro in writing characteristics are non related to these plunging forms.

Economic Importance of Whale Shark

Tourism industry of whale shark is a extremely moneymaking industry throughout the universe. Whale shark touristry is based on an ecologically vulnerable species. The economic value of a species is important in supplying support for its protection and preservation. This species is at hazard with no exclusion. The natural environment of giant shark itself is presenting hazard of being exploited which was earlier subjected to intensive fishing patterns. In last century, it was reported that Indian piscary take up to 1000 giant sharks yearly which directed to set a prohibition on such patterns in 2001. Among the assorted piscary industries, Taiwan is the largest consumer of whale shark meat. In past old ages, there has been an expectancy of the prohibition in Taiwan cut downing the quota allowing to merely 30 in 2007 down from 60 in old twelvemonth. Due to this decrease, statistics revealed that the figure of sharks caught have been well dropped from 1997-2001. But despite of these prohibitions, the recovery rate is still really slow. This is explained on the footing of illegal and unreported hunting of whale shark in assorted states. The preservation Acts of the Apostless and name for sustainable ecotourism serves as an option to whale shark development. The possible income produced from ecotourism of whale shark is decidedly more than the economic addition from runing it. The deliberate conservative value for a life giant shark in Australia has been reported to be UA $ 282,000/shark. In contrast, the economic inducement for whale shark fishing is well low. In India, the recorded monetary values paid to fishermen were less than US $ 4000/shark and for Chinese fishermen it was every bit low as US % 0.10/8kg ( Watts 2001 ) . These monetary values directs to the minimum benefits on a local graduated table in economic footings of shark fishing.

The giant sharks are non harmful to worlds but the contrary is non true. Humans find it easy to kill due to its slow velocity and liquid nature. Due to the above mentioned tendencies, fishing of whale sharks is unsustainable. The shark is to the full protected in Australian Waterss but in more than 100 states there is no protection of the sharks. The hunting activities have made the species vulnerable to extinction.

Menaces and issues associating Whale sharks

The giant sharks are a valuable resource but are being exploited for its fives, meat, skin etc. It has been estimated that 50 % of the sharks are caught while angling so name the demand of conserving them. The chief menaces to shark populations are debasement of home grounds, recreational fishing but the greatest menaces includes mark piscaries and bycatch ( Topelco K.N. et Al. 2005 ) . Harmonizing to official statistics, the current universe gimmick of sharks is 800,000 metric tons with the lone beginning of planetary gimmick, The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO ) . But the true volume of planetary gimmick is well higher than what is recorded by FAO. Another ground of increased menace to the species is that the giant sharks are sing increased force per unit area of fishing as there is a immense demand of shark fives in Asiatic markets. There is a dramatic addition in planetary trade of shark ‘s five because shark fives are considered to be the most valuable piscaries merchandises in the universe. Over 100 species exploited, 20 % is considered to be critically endangered. Therefore, it is suggested that over-fishing is the chief baleful ground to big coastal and pelagic sharks.

Furthermore, other possible negative impacts of touristry on whale sharks consequences from activities affecting repeated human perturbations ( Catlin J. et Al. 2010 ) . There are direct impacts on giant sharks by worlds such as break of its behavior and physical contact by vass and swimmers. The giant sharks besides have some indirect impacts, such as changed migratory tracts in order to avoid tourer interactions. Another challenge to successful touristry arise from the alone biological features of the giant sharks which consequences in dislocation of local tourer direction. The behavior of whale shark is disrupted when the shark actively avoids swimmers. The tourer variables inculcate in it factors like touching, brassy picture taking, propinquity to the giant shark and way obstructor. Many statements have made in context to tourism impacting shark behavior which can non be determined without more information and cognition about the behavior of whale sharks in and around the natural environment.

Whale shark touristry at Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia

Figure 3 – Ningaloo Marine Park ( Source: Adapted from Colman J.G. 1997 ) .

Ningaloo Marine Park as shown in figure 1 above screens more than 4572 Km2 country located 1200 Km North of the capital metropolis of Western Australia, Perth. The universe ‘s longest fringing reef is represented in the park. The periphery stretches along 260 Km of coastline. In 1987, the park aimed to supply for conversation of the marine species in its natural environment ( Davis d. et Al. 1997 ) . The Department of Conservation and Land Management ( CALM ) manages the Marine Park and information on shark ‘s contacts and spying informations are collected by the CALM officers and assorted research workers so as to concentrate on the biological facets of the giant shark direction in Ningaloo Marine Park. Whale shark ecotourism at Ningaloo Marine Park is the oldest and most researched among other finishs. The park is best to gauge the single value of a whale shark. Relatively, the approximative coevals period of a whale shark is believed to be 24 old ages ( Watts 2001 ) . Ecotourism of whale sharks in Ningaloo Marine Park uses multiple countries as preservation, diversion, educational, commercial and research values. Therefore, for such values considerations sing the direction patterns take into history both human values and biological values. But at the same clip it is necessary to take note of restricting the figure of licenses in whale shark activities. It has been found in many instances that human values pose a greater menace to marine resources than the considerations affecting biological values ( Davis D. et Al. 1997 ) . The seasonal collection of whale sharks at Ningaloo reef provides a platform of research to set about surveies of this seldom encountered and ill understood shark. The initial period of research did non uncover any existent facts due to miss of cognition and resources but the dedication and sustainability in research attempts non merely provided the cognition of the biological science and ecology of whale sharks in the Ningaloo Marine Park but besides provided a tract to cut down the damaging impacts of touristry force per unit area ( Colman J.G. 1997 ) .

The economic value of whale shark touristry at Ningaloo Marine Park is $ 12 million/year ( ECOS 2005 ) . Assorted researches are actively traveling on sing issues with whale sharks and their protection. These researches take into history things like shark behavior, biological features, ecological interactions, familial fluctuations, interactions with physical and bio-geochemical environment and significantly, its preservation, monitoring, direction plans and economic feasibleness surveies. The Ningaloo Marine Park is turning importance for its nature based touristry and whale shark screening. The Western Australia is taking taking stairss in protecting the species during their migration to Ningaloo Park from March to June. These taking steps are doing the ecotourism industry a critical country of research and preservation.

Tourism direction at Ningaloo Marine Park – Protection and Conservation

Tourism industry of whale sharks at Ningaloo Marine Park was declared in 1987. The industry is being managed as germinating touristry operators. Marine Park is a characteristic characteristic of the industry because this is the topographic point where animate beings are known to garner and more significantly, they are most accessible in Marine Park. The Marine Park aims to supply preservation to the marine environment with recreational usage reflecting its compatibility with preservation of its natural environment ( Catlin J. et Al. 2010 ) . Whale sharks at Ningaloo are attractive force to people all over the universe. Interaction with whale sharks in Ningaloo represents one of the tourer activities that have developed in recent old ages affecting considerable attempts on portion of tourers who choose to swim with sharks. The whale sharks are located by spotter planes and the female parent ship is guided towards it by wireless until a ocular contact is made. The findings at Ningaloo suggest that the behavior of the sharks can be affected by addiction like there is a chance that the giant shark will plunge by touching it. So the dive behavior will be encouraged by repeated swims with the same shark. Consequently, protection stairss are taken to minimise the dive response behavior as non to deviate them from feeding activities. As mentioned earlier, the shark industry is managed by Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management ( CALM ) , so the sharks are to the full protected under preservation Acts of the Apostless and licensing ordinances. Ningaloo Marine Park is licensed by the province to supervise the industry and being committed to direction, research and consumer consciousness. The direction considerations at Ningaloo take action in footings of pull offing the industry with regard to sustainable touristry ( Davis D. et al 1997 ) . There are batch of attempts in pull offing the interactions of worlds with sharks thereby guaranting a safe and gratifying environment. The sustainable preservation steps to protect whale sharks guarantee that there should be no negative impacts on the giant sharks. The direction schemes are balanced with continued high quality experiences which visitants enjoy against possible impacts. The shark industry in Ningaloo Marine Park opens up the possibility of advanced attacks to direction and preservation. The ordinances are followed so as to guarantee good usage of the resources and put to deathing the industry actions. Additionally, the operators at Ningaloo are strongly willing to set forth their cognition and experience to the development of a high quality direction environment. Therefore, the go oning acknowledgment of such steps and Acts of the Apostless by CALM will assist accomplish conformance with the ordinances and development of farther novel attacks to direction.

Decision

It can be concluded that giant sharks are an unconditioned species, really of import for preservation of the natural environment. Conservation of these species is necessary non merely for being largest fish and its susceptibleness to over-fishing but besides of it being an attractive force and moving as a flagship species for preservation of greater natural environment ( Norman B. et Al 2007 ) . The sensitive nature of giant sharks, their seasonal collection, slow ripening rate and migratory behaviors make them vulnerable and susceptible to worlds and their impacts. The touristry direction of whale sharks should work in a balanced manner to hold a high quality tourer experience with no perturbation. Management at Ningaloo Marine Park adapts different ways and steps to minimise negative effects by modulating the figure of industry entrants and the behavior of the participants. In add-on, the chief line of defense mechanism against the negative impacts of homo on giant sharks is the codification of behavior. It is effectual to separate the types of human behavior interrupting the behavior of the whale sharks but it is non ever successful as the enforcement is negligible and slack. Sometimes the regulations are non followed and obeyed by the participants believing that there will no damaging effects on interrupting the regulations. The description above indicated the economic value of the species and the chief menaces and issues to its endurance. As Whale sharks are valuable beginnings of sustainable touristry attractive force, the preservation steps and go oning protective Acts of the Apostless in Ningaloo Marine Park itself throws a visible radiation on the hereafter developments in both the legal and illegal fishing of whale sharks as a precedence. Therefore, one hundred per centum conformity to regulations and ordinances is necessary to minimise the impacts and will ensue in conserving the valuable species.