Data

Whale Shark Monitoring

Australian Ocean Data Network
Armstrong, Shannon (Point of contact) Bancroft, Kevin (Point of contact) Chapman, Tamra (Point of contact) Coutts, Teresa (Point of contact) Halkyard, Brooke (Point of contact)
Viewed: [[ro.stat.viewed]] Cited: [[ro.stat.cited]] Accessed: [[ro.stat.accessed]]
ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2FANDS&rft_id=https://catalogue.aodn.org.au:443/geonetwork/srv/api/records/516811d7-cb0c-207a-e0440003ba8c79dd&rft.title=Whale Shark Monitoring&rft.identifier=516811d7-cb0c-207a-e0440003ba8c79dd&rft.publisher=Australian Ocean Data Network&rft.description=The Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation together with the Ningaloo whale shark tourism industry have been closely involved with monitoring whale sharks at Ningaloo Marine Park since 1995. The following monitoring is being carried out: - Whale shark tourism industry logbooks - Spotter plane logbooks and GPS track and waypoint data collection - Aerial behavioural observations Data from tour operator logbooks has proven useful in gaining an understanding of trends in the whale shark industry. Based on logbook data, the total number of whale shark interactions during the paying season (1st April to 31st May) has reduced by around 36% from 1996 to 2007. This figure needs to be taken with caution as analysis of spotter plane data indicates a shifting peak of whale shark observations to outside the paying season into the months of June and July. Full season data in logbooks was only collected from 2004 onwards. Whale shark interaction success rate for tours has declined slightly, averaging approximately 80%. Sex ratio ranged from 2:1 to 4:1 males:females. Analysis of observed length estimates indicates a 1.5m reduction in mean length. Whale sharks observed showed a trend for direction of travel along the north-south gradient with a greater northward bound favour. Anecdotal reports that whale shark numbers are declining are not supported by an analysis of the aerial spotter plane data. Aerial behavioural observation work was initiated in 2007 as an alternative method of collecting behavioural response to interactions other than the industry logbooks.Maintenance and Update Frequency: unknownStatement: Original record compiled for the Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI), Project 3.8, 2008. Originally sourced from several databases compiled by WA DEC Marine Science Branch of projects relevant to the marine parks of WA. Variable metadata information was available.&rft.creator=Anonymous&rft.date=2017&rft.coverage=westlimit=113.5; southlimit=-24; eastlimit=114.5; northlimit=-21.5&rft.coverage=westlimit=113.5; southlimit=-24; eastlimit=114.5; northlimit=-21.5&rft_rights=ongoing&rft_subject=biota&rft_subject=economy&rft_subject=environment&rft_subject=oceans&rft_subject=Whale Shark&rft_subject=Marine Features (Australia) | Ningaloo Marine Park, WA&rft_subject=Monitoring&rft_subject=Logbook/Catch Data&rft_subject=Aircraft/Airbourne Equipment | Aerial Surveys&rft.type=dataset&rft.language=English Access the data
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Brief description

The Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation together with the Ningaloo whale shark tourism industry have been closely involved with monitoring whale sharks at Ningaloo Marine Park since 1995. The following monitoring is being carried out:
- Whale shark tourism industry logbooks
- Spotter plane logbooks and GPS track and waypoint data collection
- Aerial behavioural observations

Data from tour operator logbooks has proven useful in gaining an understanding of trends in the whale shark industry. Based on logbook data, the total number of whale shark interactions during the paying season (1st April to 31st May) has reduced by around 36% from 1996 to 2007. This figure needs to be taken with caution as analysis of spotter plane data indicates a shifting peak of whale shark observations to outside the paying season into the months of June and July. Full season data in logbooks was only collected from 2004 onwards. Whale shark interaction success rate for tours has declined slightly, averaging approximately 80%. Sex ratio ranged from 2:1 to 4:1 males:females. Analysis of observed length estimates indicates a 1.5m reduction in mean length. Whale sharks observed showed a trend for direction of travel along the north-south gradient with a greater northward bound favour. Anecdotal reports that whale shark numbers are declining are not supported by an analysis of the aerial spotter plane data. Aerial behavioural observation work was initiated in 2007 as an alternative method of collecting behavioural response to interactions other than the industry logbooks.

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Maintenance and Update Frequency: unknown
Statement: Original record compiled for the Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI), Project 3.8, 2008. Originally sourced from several databases compiled by WA DEC Marine Science Branch of projects relevant to the marine parks of WA. Variable metadata information was available.

Notes

Credit
Emily Wilson: Dept of Environment and Conservation (DEC)

Modified: 06 2008

Data time period: 1995

This dataset is part of a larger collection

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114.5,-21.5 114.5,-24 113.5,-24 113.5,-21.5 114.5,-21.5

114,-22.75

text: westlimit=113.5; southlimit=-24; eastlimit=114.5; northlimit=-21.5

Subjects
Aircraft/Airbourne Equipment | Aerial Surveys | Logbook/Catch Data | Marine Features (Australia) | Ningaloo Marine Park, WA | Monitoring | Whale Shark | biota | economy | environment | oceans |

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  • global : 516811d7-cb0c-207a-e0440003ba8c79dd
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