Globally, the marine wildlife tourism industry has been growing exponentially over the past years, raising concerns regarding its sustainability. This research has found that a larger effort for cross-stakeholder communication, collaboration and education does have the potential to make whale shark tours a more enjoyable experience for both tourists and whale sharks.

This study examines the bathymetry in areas R. typus aggregation events occur, with the aim to understand whether bathymetry influences aggregations. The research carried out shows there are similarities in bathymetry between aggregation sites, significantly different from other coastal areas within R. typus’ global range. This study concludes that bathymetry does influence Rhincodon typus aggregations […]

The aim of this study is to provide a data basis, on which a concept for a more sustainable form of tourism could be developed. This study investigated if disturbance factors, caused by human activities, such as the number of people in the water, the number of boats nearby the shark or the shark-boat distance […]

This study looks at two key aggregation sites in the Republic of Maldives to assess what are the primary factors that influence whale shark ‘site fidelity’. At the South Ari MPA, whale sharks predictably occur all year round, whereas at Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll, whale sharks predictably aggregate only during the southwest monsoon season

The MWSRP was honoured to attend the 4th International Whale Shark Conference in Doha between 16-18 May 2016. Generously hosted by the state of Qatar, through the Ministry of Environment, and its partners Maersk Oil Qatar and the Qatar Whale Shark Research Project the event bought together over 100 whale shark researchers from across the […]

An interesting first assessment of the validity of using an associative host to assess behaviour in whale sharks. This completely non-invasive approach explores a subjective observation based on the overarching hypothesis the MWSRP holds for why whale sharks use the South Ari atoll Marine Protected Area as an aggregation site. This dissertation was conducted by […]

Produced in 2013, the theory presented in this internal MWSRP document is an amalgamation of observed behaviours and records going back to 2006 and represents a ‘best guess’ on why whale sharks can be seen in the South Ari atoll Marine Protected Area (S.A.MPA). It also highlights possible vulnerabilities for the sharks in this region, […]

A promising pilot study on the effect of the lunar cycle on the abundance of whale sharks and plankton by an undergraduate student completing her dissertation with the MWSRP in July & August 2014. Abstract; “Whale sharks are known to inhabit the waters surrounding South Ari Atoll throughout the year (Riley et al., 2010). The […]

It gives us great pleasure to share with you an update to the presentation that we at MWSRP created and use when we conduct lectures on the whale sharks of the Maldives. Any person or organisation who would like to use this, either for their own interest or to present to their own guests is […]

Whale sharks attract large numbers of tourists, divers and snorkelers each year to South Ari Atoll in the Republic ofMaldives. Yet without information regarding the use and economic extent of the attraction, it is difficult to prioritize conservation or implement effective management plans. We used empirical recreational data and generalized mixed statistical models to conduct […]