SUCCESSFUL SEASON SPOTTING - 'WHALE SHARKS' OFF UKUNDA
Coastweek
April 3, 2009
There was not one complaint
about the lack of sharks ...
Greetings from Diani - Expedition 2009 got off to a flying start with two whale sharks sighted and one tagged on Day One.
After that however the level of whale sharks sighted dropped rather dramatically with only eight sightings and three taggings during the three week expedition period.
Despite the lack of sharks, everyone who joined us on the expedition had a fantastic time. There was not one complaint about the lack of sharks.
There was not one complaint that we had to increase the price from last year due to substantial increases in the running costs.
People understood and respected the fact that whale sharks are wild and free.
We are still learning so much about these creatures and cannot predict where they will turn up next.
We were overwhelmed by the amount of interest and support from the public.
We had full boats everyday allowing us to conduct the longest and most cohesive aerial survey of the Diani Beach area.
We had no less than four different film crews including ones from Germany and from Australia.
The media interest was huge with reporters from Reuters, Associated Press, KTN, The Standard Group and Africa Journal.
One of the best things to come out of the expedition has been the significant interest in the dreaded nets donated to a group of local fishermen by US Aid.
The EAWST has been trying to get these nets banned here as they are in the USA for over two years now.
Diving The Crab reported over 70 dead turtles caught in these nets during 2008 alone.
We all remember the two humpback whales caught in these same nets late in 2008 one of which was thankfully released by Diving The Crab.
These events resulted in mega media interest and US Aid is now being forced to acknowledge the enormous damage these nets have caused.
We continue to hope that they will support the alternative fishing programmes that the fishermen are keen to try.
We are getting responses from all over the world from organisations and businesses who are interested in helping us with these alternative programmes as a result of the negative publicity these nets have caused.
This is something we have been trying to achieve for many years and we are so encouraged by the outpouring of support.
Watch this space regarding the nets.
The three sharks tagged have all been adopted - the first two have been adopted by Philippa Gibbon.
She has named the first shark 'Bumble'.
The third one is called 'Eagle Eye' adopted by the London Vision Eye Clinic.
Thank you to our kind sponsors who will receive regular updates on their shark's movements.
So although our friends the gentle giants did not come to the party this year, we have still achieved a lot on their behalf.
We are working on getting whale sharks legal protection in Kenyan waters.
We would be the first country in East Africa to do this.
We strengthened our working relationship with the Kenya Wildlife Service and with the Wildlife Conservation Society and Dr Rachel Graham the scientist in charge of the research and tagging.
We wish to thank our main sponsors Southern Cross Scuba, Diani Fishing Club, Pinewood Village, Leisure Lodge, Southern Cross Safaris, Aqualand Watersports Centre and Camp Kenya.
Our fantastic pilots Alexis Peltier, Rob Dodson and Peter Zanetti.
And most of all thank you to each and every expedition member who contributed the running costs of the expedition.
We could not have done it without you.
On behalf of every whale shark out there, many many heartfelt thanks to you all.
Best wishes for Easter,
Nimu Njonjo and the East African Whale Shark Trust team, Diani Beach, Ukunda.
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Article at: http://www.coastweek.com/3214-32.htm
