GREEN SCENE

simone caprodossi

exciting researchers
thE aGGREGatioN of dozENS of whalE ShaRkS off QataRS NoRthEaSt CoaSt haS StimulatEd a lot of iNtERNatioNal iNtERESt. whilSt thEy havE bEEN ENjoyiNG thiS habitat foR a NumbER of yEaRS, itS oNly RECENtly that thEiR SEaSoNal pRESENCE haS bEEN RECoRdEd aNd aNalySEd.
ince the turn of the millennium, offshore workers from Maersk Oil have innocently observed some surprisingly large fish playfully circling their platforms and thought nothing else of it. Indeed, well before any oil was discovered local fishermen returned to land with stories about nehem big fish that would eat you! People were naturally a little fearful. In 2007, a keen offshore worker reported

Whale sharks

an aggregation of more than one hundred whale sharks to the website ecocean.org, which collates global observations of whale sharks. David Robinson, a postgraduate student from Heriot-Watt University, uncovered these images as part of his preliminary Ph.D.research into whale sharks in the region. He brought them to the attention of special advisor Mohammed Al-Jaidah from the Qatar Ministry of Environment, and in late 2010 they established the Qatar Whale Shark Research Project (WSRP) the purpose of which is to provide data necessary to establish a long-term monitoring pro-

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michael pitts

throughs, explains Mohammed Al-Jaidah. This work was captured on film, and a documentary will be made for use in Qatar to broaden awareness and understanding of this unique population and the research work that is going on. Following on from this productive start, and with the assistance of Maersk, we will improve our technology, such as leveraging acoustic equipment, to give us a better understanding of their behaviour. Last year we had seven tracking systems and we acquired some very useful information from three of them. This year, we are hoping to acquire more resourceful data. Although the four-year research project is still in its early stages, some observations are beginning to reveal formative results. Several of the same sharks were observed in 2011, and the team believe that one contributing reason to the whale shark aggregation in the Al Shaheen oil field may well be the large offshore platforms. The structures form an artificial reef environment for fish, and fishing restrictions ensure large fish stocks prevail. Will it eat you? Fortunately, no. Although it might look like the meanest submarine creature and weigh up to 20 tonnes, it has no penchant for human flesh. Its colossal appetite is satiated instead by plankton, which consists of drifting organisms such as algae, crustaceans, fish and other aquatic animals. Like the worlds second-largest fish, the basking shark, it is a filter feeder, so in order to eat it protrudes its massive jaws and passively filters everything in its path, gulping down the plankton like cannon fodder. The whale sharks flattened head sports a blunt snout above its mouth, with short barbels protruding from its nostrils. Its back and sides are grey to brown with white spots among pale vertical and horizontal stripes, and its belly is white. Its two dorsal fins are set rearward on its body, which ends in a large dual-lobbed caudal fin (or tail). Preferring warm waters, whale sharks populate all tropical seas and are known to aggregate in certain areas around the world such as the west coast of Australia. There, the coral spawning of the areas Ningaloo Reef provides the whale shark with an abundant supply of plankton. The Qatar Whale Shark Research Project will shed more light on what is drawing whale sharks to the Arabian Gulf

michael pitts

gramme and create a robust description of the ecology of whale sharks in Qatari waters. Marine biologist Steffen Bach, from the Maersk Oil Research and Technology Centre (MORTC), felt it was something his organisation should collaborate with. The strategic position of Maersks offshore platforms and the engagement of its staff make it possible for them to contribute significantly to the project. The project is a perfect example on how the industry can work together with authorities and researchers to improve our understanding of the environment, says Bach. To be able to assist in the project is

important for us not just from a research point of view but also to demonstrate that we want to preserve biodiversity in areas where we operate. One of the activities for 2012 was to conduct a two-week expedition to the Al Shaheen oil field, where satellite tags were attached to individual sharks in order to track movements within the Gulf and beyond. The team witnessed approximately 100 whale sharks during the expedition and used photos of their unique spot patterns to identify each one. The team performed a number of scientific research activities during the expedition and even made some scientific break-

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