Whale Shark Research Findings Released at Georgia Aquarium

Study reveals the largest whale shark aggregation known to science

Atlanta (August 2, 2007) – The Georgia Aquarium and Mote Marine Laboratory on Thursday released findings from a collaborative U.S.-Mexico research study of whale sharks. The study is designed to provide information to support the conservation of whale sharks in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, and to learn more about the basic biology of whale sharks. The collaboration, which began in 2003, includes researchers from Mexico’s Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas.

Researchers believe they are studying the world’s largest aggregation of whale sharks. Robert Hueter, Director of Mote Marine Laboratory’s Center for Shark Research (based in Sarasota, Fla.), presented the team’s research findings to the public on Thursday at the Georgia Aquarium.

The findings reveal that several hundred whale sharks, and perhaps more, visit the continental shelf waters off Cabo Catoche between Mexico’s Isla Holbox and Isla Contoy each summer to feed on plankton. To date, 554 whale sharks have been documented and tagged with external tags. The sharks range in size from approximately 5 to 42 feet long (1.5 to 13 meters) with both mature and immature animals in the group. The sex ratio is approximately one female for every two to three males.

Studies include the use of pop-off satellite archival tags, which allow scientists to gather more detailed information about the migration of whale sharks. The tags help scientists gather information about how deep the sharks dive, water temperature and where the whale sharks travel The tags archive the data while attached to the shark and are pre-programmed to release at a specific time. Upon release, the tags float to the water’s surface and send their data to satellites, which in turn send it to scientists back at the lab.

As an example, the tags revealed one shark that traveled 550 miles (885 kilometers) in 31 days, nearly 35 miles a day. Tags have also shown the deepest dives ever recorded for a whale shark at 4,514 feet (1,376 meters).

"The Georgia Aquarium is advancing scientific understanding of whale sharks by combining field research with in-house study,” said Ray Davis, Senior Vice President of Zoological Operations of the Georgia Aquarium. “Everything we learn is a new discovery, and we hope this will help the world gain a better understanding of the whale sharks and aquatic conservation.”
Hueter, who saw his first whale shark while he was a graduate student at the University of Miami said that Mote’s collaboration with the Georgia Aquarium and with Mexican researchers has been an important one for learning about the biology of whale sharks in the Caribbean Basin. “Holbox is a very special place in the lives of whale sharks,” Hueter said. “It’s the most concentrated number of whale sharks anywhere in the world, so understanding why the sharks congregate there is extremely important to their conservation.”

The U.S.-Mexico team will continue the study this summer, traveling to Isla Holbox on Friday, Aug. 3, 2007. Research will continue to document the whale sharks’ location, numbers, size, sex, behavior, migration and genetics by on-water and aerial surveys, feeding studies, tagging and radio tracking. Scientists will also gather logbooks containing sighting data from ecotourism guides and fishermen who participate in the research program.

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About the Georgia Aquarium
The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia, is the world’s largest with more than eight million gallons of water and the largest collection of aquatic animals. The mission of the Georgia Aquarium is to be an entertaining, educational, and scientific institution featuring exhibits and programs of the highest standards; offering engaging and exciting guest experiences promoting the conservation of aquatic biodiversity throughout the world. For additional information, visit www.georgiaaquarium.org.

About Mote Marine Laboratory and the Center for Shark Research
Founded in 1955, Mote Marine Laboratory is one of the largest independent nonprofit marine research organizations in the world. It is dedicated to advancing the science of the sea through the study of marine and estuarine ecosystems, through the public Mote Aquarium and through an education division that provides unique programs for all ages.

Mote’s Center for Shark Research was designated by the U.S. Congress as a national center for shark research in 1991. The Center is dedicated to the scientific study of sharks, skates and rays; research ranges from studies of sharks’ molecular biology in the lab to studies of shark populations in the sea