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Womersley FC, Rohner CA, Abrantes K, Afonso P, Arunrugstichai S, Bach SS, Bar S, Barash A, Barnes P, Barnett A, Boldrocchi G, Buffat N, Canon T, Perez CC, Chuangcharoendee M, Cochran JEM, de la Parra R, Diamant S, Driggers W, Dudgeon CL, Erdmann MV, Fitzpatrick R, Flam A, Fontes J, Francis G, Galvan BE, Graham RT, Green SM, Green JR, Grosmark Y, Guzman HM, Hardenstine RS, Harvey M, Harvey-Carroll J, Hasan AW, Hearn AR, Hendon JM, Putra MIH, Himawan MR, Hoffmayer E, Holmberg J, Hsu HH, Jaidah MY, Jansen A, Judd C, Kuguru B, Lester E, Macena BCL, Magson K, Maguiño R, Manjaji-Matsumoto M, Marcoux SD, Marcoux T, McKinney J, Meekan M, Mendoza A, Moazzam M, Monacella E, Norman B, Perry C, Pierce S, Prebble C, Macías DR, Raudino H, Reynolds S, Robinson D, Rowat D, Santos MD, Schmidt J, Scott C, See ST, Sianipar A, Speed CW, Syakurachman I, Tyne JA, Waples K, Winn C, Yuneni RR, Zareer I, Araujo G. Identifying priority sites for whale shark ship collision management globally. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 934:172776. [PMID: 38697520 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
The expansion of the world's merchant fleet poses a great threat to the ocean's biodiversity. Collisions between ships and marine megafauna can have population-level consequences for vulnerable species. The Endangered whale shark (Rhincodon typus) shares a circumglobal distribution with this expanding fleet and tracking of movement pathways has shown that large vessel collisions pose a major threat to the species. However, it is not yet known whether they are also at risk within aggregation sites, where up to 400 individuals can gather to feed on seasonal bursts of planktonic productivity. These "constellation" sites are of significant ecological, socio-economic and cultural value. Here, through expert elicitation, we gathered information from most known constellation sites for this species across the world (>50 constellations and >13,000 individual whale sharks). We defined the spatial boundaries of these sites and their overlap with shipping traffic. Sites were then ranked based on relative levels of potential collision danger posed to whale sharks in the area. Our results showed that researchers and resource managers may underestimate the threat posed by large ship collisions due to a lack of direct evidence, such as injuries or witness accounts, which are available for other, sub-lethal threat categories. We found that constellations in the Arabian Sea and adjacent waters, the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of California, and Southeast and East Asia, had the greatest level of collision threat. We also identified 39 sites where peaks in shipping activity coincided with peak seasonal occurrences of whale sharks, sometimes across several months. Simulated collision mitigation options estimated potentially minimal impact to industry, as most whale shark core habitat areas were small. Given the threat posed by vessel collisions, a coordinated, multi-national approach to mitigation is needed within priority whale shark habitats to ensure collision protection for the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freya C Womersley
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, UK; Marine Research and Conservation Foundation, Somerset, UK; Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
| | | | | | - Pedro Afonso
- Institute of Marine Research - IMAR, Department of Oceanography and Fisheries, University of the Azores, 9900-140 Horta, Portugal; Institute of Marine Sciences, OKEANOS, University of the Azores, 9900-140 Horta, Portugal
| | | | | | | | | | - Peter Barnes
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions, WA Government, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jesse E M Cochran
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | | | | | - William Driggers
- National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, USA
| | - Christine L Dudgeon
- Biopixel Oceans Foundation, Australia; University of Sunshine Coast, School of Science, Technology and Engineering, Petrie, QLD, Australia
| | | | | | - Anna Flam
- Marine Megafauna Foundation, West Palm Beach, FL 33411, USA
| | - Jorge Fontes
- Institute of Marine Research - IMAR, Department of Oceanography and Fisheries, University of the Azores, 9900-140 Horta, Portugal; Institute of Marine Sciences, OKEANOS, University of the Azores, 9900-140 Horta, Portugal
| | - Gemma Francis
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions, WA Government, Australia
| | | | | | - Sofia M Green
- Galápagos Whale Shark Project, USA; Galápagos Science Center, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, USFQ, School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Diego de Robles sn y Pampite, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | | | - Hector M Guzman
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama; MigraMar, 2099 Westshore Rd, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, USA
| | - Royale S Hardenstine
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Jessica Harvey-Carroll
- Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme, Maldives; Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 18A, 413 90 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | - Alex R Hearn
- Galápagos Whale Shark Project, USA; Galápagos Science Center, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, USFQ, School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Diego de Robles sn y Pampite, Quito, Ecuador; MigraMar, 2099 Westshore Rd, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, USA
| | - Jill M Hendon
- The University of Southern Mississippi, Center for Fisheries Research and Development, Ocean Springs, MS, USA
| | | | | | - Eric Hoffmayer
- National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, USA
| | | | - Hua Hsun Hsu
- Coastal and Offshore Resources Research Center, Fisheries Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, Taiwan
| | | | | | | | - Baraka Kuguru
- Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute, United Republic of Tanzania
| | | | - Bruno C L Macena
- Institute of Marine Research - IMAR, Department of Oceanography and Fisheries, University of the Azores, 9900-140 Horta, Portugal; Institute of Marine Sciences, OKEANOS, University of the Azores, 9900-140 Horta, Portugal
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Mark Meekan
- Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Brad Norman
- ECOCEAN Inc., Australia; Murdoch University, Australia
| | - Cameron Perry
- Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme, Maldives; Georgia Aquarium, USA; Georgia Institute of Technology, USA
| | - Simon Pierce
- Marine Megafauna Foundation, West Palm Beach, FL 33411, USA; University of Sunshine Coast, School of Science, Technology and Engineering, Petrie, QLD, Australia
| | - Clare Prebble
- Marine Megafauna Foundation, West Palm Beach, FL 33411, USA
| | | | - Holly Raudino
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions, WA Government, Australia
| | | | - David Robinson
- Qatar Whale Shark Research Project, Doha, Qatar; Sundive Research, NSW, Australia
| | - David Rowat
- Marine Conservation Society Seychelles, Seychelles
| | | | | | | | - Sian Tian See
- Borneo Marine Research Institute, University Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia
| | | | - Conrad W Speed
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Perth, WA, Australia
| | | | - Julian A Tyne
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions, WA Government, Australia
| | - Kelly Waples
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions, WA Government, Australia
| | - Chloe Winn
- Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme, Maldives
| | | | | | - Gonzalo Araujo
- Marine Research and Conservation Foundation, Somerset, UK; Environmental Science Program, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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Magson K, Monacella E, Scott C, Buffat N, Arunrugstichai S, Chuangcharoendee M, Pierce SJ, Holmberg J, Araujo G. Citizen science reveals the population structure and seasonal presence of whale sharks in the Gulf of Thailand. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2022; 101:540-549. [PMID: 35638311 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The whale shark Rhincodon typus is a broadly distributed and highly mobile planktivorous shark species. The sharks form predictable aggregations in many areas, providing the opportunity for cost-effective scientific monitoring through divers and other marine resource users. Sightings of individuals outside of these aggregate zones elsewhere in their range are typically rare. We used a citizen science-based approach to shed light on occurrence and seasonality in the waters around Koh Tao, Thailand and neighbouring islands in the Gulf of Thailand. Although there is a paucity of quantitative data, anecdotal reports suggest substantial declines in sightings in the early 2000s. We identified a total of 178 individual whale sharks (from 249 sightings) between 2004 and 2019, with most of these (84%) from the 2015-2019 time period due to an increase in sighting reports facilitated by social media and direct marketing. Size estimates were reported for 102 of the sightings, with a range of 2-6 m and mean of 3.7 m overall. Sex was reported for 27% of sightings, with a 2:1 female-to-male ratio. Modified maximum likelihood methods suggest whale sharks are transient to Koh Tao and surrounding areas, with whale shark sightings following the regional monsoon cycle. One international resighting was obtained from Malaysian waters (~700 km away). Encouraging citizen science participation is particularly useful in data-poor regions like the Gulf of Thailand, despite limitations in size and sex estimation reliability, which can play an important complementary role in dedicated research programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsty Magson
- Thai Whale Sharks, Surat Thani, Thailand
- New Heaven Reef Conservation Program, Surat Thani, Thailand
- Conservation Diver, Evergreen, Colorado, USA
| | - Emily Monacella
- Thai Whale Sharks, Surat Thani, Thailand
- New Heaven Reef Conservation Program, Surat Thani, Thailand
| | - Chad Scott
- Conservation Diver, Evergreen, Colorado, USA
| | - Noémie Buffat
- Thai Whale Sharks, Surat Thani, Thailand
- New Heaven Reef Conservation Program, Surat Thani, Thailand
| | | | | | | | | | - Gonzalo Araujo
- Marine Research and Conservation Foundation, Somerset, UK
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