NASA technology could help save whale sharks, says Australian marine biologist and founder of ECOCEAN Brad Norman

NASA technology could help save whale sharks, says Australian marine biologist and founder of ECOCEAN Brad Norman

by
To help protect the species, Australian marine biologist Brad Norman co-founded The Wildbook for Whale Sharks, a photo identification database that went online in 2003.

Members of the public, scientists and whale shark tour operators around the world are contributing photos of whale sharks to the system, which uses NASA technology to map their locations and track their movements. Today, the database contains more than 70,000 submissions from more than 50 countries, making it one of the largest conservation projects in the world.

Despite their impressive size – whale sharks can grow up to 20 meters long – these gentle giants pose no danger to swimmers. They feed on plankton and small marine organisms and sail at a leisurely maximum of three kilometers per hour, allowing snorkelers and divers to get up close.

Norman has been studying these charismatic creatures for over 25 years. He first swam with a whale shark in the turquoise waters of the Ningaloo Reef off the northern coast of Western Australia. “It was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had,” he recalls. “I will never forget it.”

Marine biologist Brad Norman photographs a whale shark.

The whale shark – nicknamed Stumpy because of its deformed tail – was the first entry in a photo identification library Norman created in 1995. The library, later operated by Norman’s conservation organization ECOCEAN, became the founder of The Wildbook for Whale Sharks. .
Read: She filmed sharks for ‘Jaws’ – then she dedicated her life to protecting them

A slow swimmer, Stumpy, is relatively easy to keep up with, Norman says. “I see him almost every year and … I think ‘G’day mate, how are you?’

Since the first encounter, Norman has swum with whale sharks on thousands of occasions – and says he still gets a buzz out of it every time.

Why NASA whale shark technology works

Images sent to The Wildbook for Whale Sharks are analyzed by an algorithm that scans the spots and streaks on the animal’s skin, which is as unique as a human fingerprint, Norman says. The algorithm identifies the shark by searching the database for a matching pattern.

Whale sharks are identified by the marks on their skin.

Adapted according to the technology first developed for NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope program, the algorithm works for whale sharks because their skin marks form patterns similar to stars in the night sky.

Norman says that the information on the location of whale sharks and migration routes together provide information on management strategies for habitat protection. “I can only be in one place at a time,” he says. “It’s so important that members of the public help with our project.”

Is swimming with whale sharks good for them?

Norman says he will “encourage anyone who gets the opportunity to swim with a whale shark.”

But more boats, snorkelers and divers in whale sharks can be problematic. Norman warns that the impact on the sharks should be kept to a minimum.

In Western Australia, whale shark tourist operators are strictly regulated with limited numbers of people and licensed vessels in the water near the animals, and a percentage of sales goes to whale shark management.

However, regulation and application are weaker in other places.

In the Maldives, whale sharks are a popular attraction, but government guidelines designed to protect the sharks from harassment are frequently violated. This can cause stress in the animals, while collision injuries can affect their development and the ability to drive long distances.
Whale sharks in the Philippines are regularly provided with food to lure them to places where visitors can easily see it. This can change the sharks’ diving patterns and metabolism, while a high level of scarring indicates increased boat attacks. The pressure of tourist activities and feeding can also lead to the deterioration of coral reef.

But where equipment is practiced responsibly on whale sharks, it can help save the species. Norman hopes to see more data collection around the world, stopping information gaps and strengthening conservation efforts. He is looking for what he calls ‘the holy grail’, and finds out where the whale sharks are going to mate. Protecting their breeding grounds is the ‘one big thing’ needed to save the species in the long run, he says. The help of thousands of civil scientists gives him a greater chance of making this possible.

.Source