Tagged Whale Shark caught and likely eaten in Indonesia
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 8 December, 2005 : - - A whale shark tagged with a tracking device off north-west Western Australia is believed to
have been caught and eaten in Indonesia.Satellite data has shown the electronic tracking device attached to the seven-and-a-half metre whale shark,
off Ningaloo, has been on land for more than three months on an Indonesian island.
The animal was being tracked in a joint project involving the WA Government. WA Tourism Minister Mark McGowan says the whale shark seems to have been
killed by villagers. "We were aware of evidence before this that they were being destroyed and eaten by people in the countries to our north," Mr
McGowan said.
"This appears to confirm that and what it means is there needs to be international action to protect these creatures. "They deserve the opportunity to
survive and we do need to negotiate an international treaty to protect them and our tourism industry." Mr McGowan says it is a tragedy for the
environment and the tourism industry.
"We need to protect and preserve this incredibly important species so that future generations can have the opportunity to see these beautiful
creatures," he said.vandenberg - 12-8-2005 at 08:54 PM
Bon appetitebufeo - 12-8-2005 at 09:43 PM
Having just read Devil's Teeth by Susan Casey, I have much more respect and regard for the GW.Sharksbaja - 12-9-2005 at 01:12 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by bufeo
Having just read Devil's Teeth by Susan Casey, I have much more respect and regard for the GW.
That's good!capt. mike - 12-9-2005 at 06:08 AM
hey Allen, what's it about? great whites??bufeo - 12-9-2005 at 08:53 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by capt. mike
hey Allen, what's it about? great whites??
In general, yes. Specifically, Casey writes about the great whites that come each year to the Farallones and a couple of the dedicated (you have to
be dedicated to want to spend time on those rocks) biologists who study those fish.
Casey does her homework and writes well. Son-in-law, Andy, was reading it after the Baja Mil and when I picked it up I couldn't put it down.
A few years ago, we were out in the Sea of Cortez and a shark nearly the size of our boat (19') came up and circled a couple of times. I don't know
one shark from another, except maybe the hammerhead, but a marine biologist on board identified it as a gw. In retrospect, it did demonstrate some of
the characteristics Casey describes and it was huge.
Anyway, if you have even a modicum of interest in these incredible fish, Devil's Teeth makes for a good read in front of the fireplace this
winter.
