Conservationists revitalise whale shark monitoring in Seychelles with national grant |06 September 2023

Drones will be used to monitor whale sharks (Photo: Contributed)

The Marine Conservation Society Seychelles plans to undertake a whale shark monitoring project aimed at enhancing public awareness and appreciation of the species.

The conservation organisation recently received a national grant of R148,100.00 to fund the whale sharks project.

Speaking to Seychelles NATION, Christophe Mason-Parker, chief executive of Marine Conservation Society Seychelles (MCSS), shed light on the history of their efforts, mentioning a prior long-term whale shark monitoring programme.

He highlighted a concerning decline in whale shark numbers that commenced in 2014 and persisted for some years. “We had to terminate the monitoring at the time. However, in recent years and last year particularly, there has been sightings of whale sharks again," noting that the reasons for their absence during that period remain uncertain.

Currently, Mr Mason-Parker explained that the organisation was preparing to conduct a visibility study during the upcoming season. Traditionally, the whale shark season spans from August until the end of October, coinciding with the cooler waters and increased plankton levels around Mahe, which serve as the primary food source for whale sharks.

"The study is looking at the possibility of restarting another long-term monitoring programme. In the past we had a micro-light, a fixed-wing small plane that a pilot flies around searching for whale sharks. However, logistically it is complicated and expensive to operate and technology has moved on since then," explained Mr Mason-Parker.

He said with the help of the national grant, the Marine Conservation Society Seychelles (MCSS) will be able to invest in drone technology. They are actively exploring the use of drones for monitoring whale sharks, alongside deploying boats for observation.

"We are focusing on the northwest section of Mahe, which historically has been the most frequent sighting area for whale sharks during this time of the year," added Mr Mason-Parker.

The organisation will also be conducting plankton sampling to investigate whether there is a correlation between the quantity and type of plankton and the presence of whale sharks in the area.

The project will run whale shark activities throughout September and October. “Hopefully, at the end of it, we will have an idea of how useful it is to continue long term monitoring and restart eco-tours for people to go and have the opportunity to snorkel with whale sharks.”

He highlighted that one of the enduring objectives of the revitalised monitoring programme is the identification of individual sharks. Comparable to human fingerprints, whale sharks exhibit unique patterns. By capturing a photo from the side of the shark, specifically behind the pectoral fin, and inputting it into the MCSS’ specialised software, they can successfully distinguish individual sharks.

“We will be able to tell if it is a shark that we have seen previously in Seychelles, when we saw it, how many years ago, how many times it has been seen and also potentially the sex of the shark, the size it was previously compared to the size it is now, so we can build up the database with information about the different sharks visiting Seychelles waters,” explained the CEO.

Another component of the project is the creation of a WhatsApp group involving dive operators and different boat operators. “If clients see whale sharks and they manage to get a photo, they can send it to us and by referring to our database, we will be able to tell if that shark has been seen before. This will help create that ongoing interest in the whale shark project and create a much better understanding of the species in the area.”

Mr Mason-Parker also delved into another facet of the project, emphasising its role in raising awareness about whale sharks. He recounted that in 2003, in collaboration with the Seychelles government, MCSS conducted a stakeholder consultation and crafted a whale shark code of conduct for the country. This code of conduct outlines guidelines for interacting with whale sharks, including instructions such as refraining from touching them, avoiding the use of flash photography, and maintaining a minimum distance of three meters from the majestic creatures.

MCSS recently modernised the document which was over two decades old. "The information remains the same, but we are enhancing its visual appeal and making it more accessible,” said Mr Mason-Parker.

 Digital copies of the updated code have already been distributed to various dive centres and operators. Laminated hard copies are also being made available to the public, and an extensive social media campaign will promote the code in the coming weeks.

MCSS is collaborating with a graphic designer to create informative infographics and posters on how to capture high-quality photos of whale sharks to contribute to their database.

Throughout the project's duration, the non-governmental organisation plans to conduct various social media campaigns to raise general awareness about whale sharks and provide more information about these incredible creatures.

"Ultimately, the whale shark remains the only fish species in Seychelles with full protection," he added.

The grant funds will be allocated for the procurement of several pieces of technology, including underwater cameras such as Go-Pros, as well as graphic equipment suitable for underwater use. Additionally, the funds will cover the acquisition of waterproof paper to print datasheets for recording information during boat outings, including the shark's length, sex, any identifiable scars, its behaviour, feeding pattern and other general observations.

Under the first call for proposals for the 2023 grant cycle, a group of 11 not-for-profit civil society organisations were awarded grants for their projects at a cost of R3,771,251.60.

As a result of funds availability, a second proposal was issued in March 2023, in which a total of 10 registered organisations submitted their application.

Out of those, six made it through to the final stage of the application process.

The National Grants Committee approved projects amounting to R1,309,740.05. To date, a total of 97 projects amounting to R29,186,279.91 has been funded by the scheme, which is financed through the country’s national budget.

Established by the government in 2019, the National Grants Funding Scheme targets projects geared towards the country’s national development strategies linked to the attainment of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Sunny Esparon