Whale sharks to get protection

PRESLEY THOMAS

 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2004 12:32:39 AM ]

 

VADODARA: The state forest department seems to have finally woken up to protect whale sharks, the largest fish in the world, being poached in large numbers along Gujarat 's coastline.

 

It has tied up with the Indian Coast Guards to assist it in protecting the fish. The step has been taken after increasing reports of whale sharks being poached by local fisherman for markets in Taiwan and other South East Asian countries.

 

The deputy inspectorgeneral of Coast Guards, S P S Basra, told TNN, "We are well-versed with the conditions in which the whale sharks drift in occasionally as we patrol Gujarat 's international border along the coastline. The department had approached us for assisting them and we have agreed to support them. We will be providing them with information on the number of whale sharks spotted along our coastline and would ensure they are not poached by the local fishermen."

 

Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Pradeep Khanna said, "We are in touch with the Coast Guards and are working out the modalities to protect this endangered species. The last known incident of a whale shark being poached was in Mandvi about an year ago. All of them have been booked and a case registered against them."

 

According to sources in the forest department, poaching whale sharks has increased in the past decade, as it means quick money. A full-grown whale shark, which can measure about 14 metres and weigh nearly eight to 10 tonnes, can fetch them at least Rs 1.5 lakh.

 

The liver constitutes about 10 per cent of the body weight of the whale shark, say experts. It contains 60 to 70 per cent oil; about 600 to 700 litres of oil can be extracted from the liver of a 12-metre shark; and The cost of the liver and liver oil is Rs 25 and Rs 30 per kg respectively. The oil acts as crude preservative and is used for coating the wooden hull of boats. A set of fins costs would earn nearly Rs 20,000, sources added.

 

A senior forest official said, "While visual tagging and photo identification are being carried out in KwaZulu Natal ( South Africa ), southern Mozambique , Seychelles , Australia , Belize , Honduras , Mexico and Philippines , a small measure to protect this endangered species has been taken by us. We would adopt these techniques at a later stage."

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