Conservation through Research and Community Mobilisation

The Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP) is a research-based conservation charity dedicated to studying the whale shark and fostering community-focused conservation initiatives in the Maldives and the greater Indian Ocean.

What initially began as a scientific expedition in 2006, the MWSRP has grown to become the only long-term organisation dedicated to studying the iconic yet vulnerable whale shark species in the Maldives.

“Our goal is simple: we seek to advance the field of whale shark knowledge and to advocate for sound conservation policy in the Maldives. By encouraging and valuing community and industry stakeholder participation, we are able to leverage the scientific research to safeguard the rich biodiversity and fragile marine ecosystems that are the basis for not only whale sharks, but also life, livelihood and culture in the Maldives.”

Photography // Nicki Meharg - @morlo_wildlife — Photography // **Nicki Meharg -** @morlo_wildlife

‘Our Home Island Dhigurah’

Dhigurah has been a welcome port of call for MWSRP since the very first days of the charity back in 2006 and a permanent base since 2014. With a population of 534, only about one-third of the island is inhabited and the rest is covered in mature foliage and numerous vegetable plantations.

Generations ago, Dhigurah made its name and wealth from hunting whale sharks. The deep waters on the islands eastern shore are part of a reef complex that is home to one of the only known populations of whale sharks that inhabit one region all year round – the same feature that nowadays attracts tourists and research teams from around the world!

South Ari atoll Marine Protected Area (SAMPA) is the Maldives largest Marine Protected Area and famous for being one of the few places in the world where whale sharks can be encountered all year round. Here SAMPA community members share their love of the whale shark and offer some advice to visitors on how to minimise their impact when swimming with the worlds largest fish.

Conservation

We understand that everything is interconnected – the economy, people, culture, whale sharks, and the environment – and that local community involvement is central to successful conservation initiatives.
We strive to recognise the importance of these layers and be inclusive in our conservation philosophy towards the sharks we study, the supporting marine ecosystems, and the coastal communities we work with.
Through scientific research and a reverence for ecological principles, our conservation strategy encourages people of all backgrounds and cultures to participate in keeping the fragile Maldivian ecosystems healthy and sound for future generations.

Research

The MWSRP was founded on the aim of understanding the population dynamics of the whale sharks in the Maldives and how this fits into the species’ existence in the wider world. Our research focuses on the whale shark and the supporting marine ecosystems. Day to day activities are based around time on the water collecting scientific baseline data, which guides our scientific publications and advocacy efforts for sound environmental policies.
Our research is used to inform decision-makers and the general public for the good of the whole. We believe that real buy-in can only be achieved when people truly understand the research process and the outcomes it generates.
Our approach aims to involve people: from the local to the international level to demystify the scientific research process and reveal answers about the mysteries of the whale shark species.

Photography // Lewis Michael Jefferies - @lewismjefferies.photo — Photography // **Lewis Michael Jefferies -** @lewismjefferies.photo

Community Mobilisation

We value the inclusion of the local community and believe it is central to good conservation practices.
We know that by getting people directly involved and excited in our work, we can create networks of involved citizens, ready to participate in stimulating scientific research and conservation projects related to the whale shark.
By developing dynamic research studies, ensuring transparent communication of findings, and facilitating educational opportunities focusing on the importance of biological diversity, species conservation and environmental stewardship, we know that we can advance the field of research and foster effective conservation initiatives.

Moodhu Kudhin - ‘Children of the Sea’ initiative South Ari atoll

It may surprise you that while the younger generation of Maldivians will be learning in school about the marine environment, many wouldn’t necessarily have donned masks and snorkels and taken the step to see what is going on down there first hand! As marine conservationists, the MWSRP are of the belief that if you can’t see this undersea world then you probably won’t fully appreciate it. So in 2017 the MWSRP designed and began implementing the ‘Moodhu Kudin’ programme. Translated from the local language, this means ‘children of the sea’ and is a very exciting two-day practical and theoretical experience designed to supplement the excellent school learning the children receive in marine sciences.

The key component of this programme is getting the children out onto and into the sea. Bedecked in mask, snorkels, fins and the mandatory life vests and surrounded by MWSRP staff and volunteers, as well as teachers and parents, the children can safely explore and see first-hand the complexity of the coral reefs that surround their home islands. They also learn first-hand what it takes to collect scientific data, which we always hope will plant the seeds of interest in a marine sciences career!

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M.W.S.R.P Interviews

Chloe Winn, Infield Coordinator

A former volunteer, Chloe is also an accomplished artist, (a costume designer for TV and film no less!). However, her other passion is all things marine. Since her placement with MWSRP in 2018 she has gone on to work as an excursion guide in Dhigurah and is currently working her way towards starting an MSc in Marine Biology.

Clara Cánovas Pérez, Operations Manager

As a former lead In-Field Coordinator and contributor to whale shark encounter data, Clara has participated in cetacean research projects, fisheries management projects, a chimpanzee sanctuary and a veterinary hospital. Until recently, she has been working in nature reserves as a guide, focusing on sustainable tourism and conservation.

Basith Mohamed, Lead Infield Coordinator

Basith is gifted both in the water and on the basketball court and joined MWSRP on a short internship in early 2017, becoming such an integral team member that his transition to In-Field Coordinator was immediate and seamless.

He is gifted with an incredible ability to absorb information and continuously pursues opportunities to learn about marine science.

Where are you from? Where are you based now?

‘Our team is small and consists of five core members. Our Director and Founder Richard is from Pembrokeshire UK, our Operations Manager Clara from Spain, our Project Manager Shameel is from the Maldives, as is our Lead in-field coordinator Basith. Throughout 2020, due to the pandemic, all of us were working remotely (on a volunteer basis in between other jobs) and we are currently in the midst of returning in-field for our expedition to Fuvahmulah and volunteer programme thereafter.’ - Chloe Winn

What is a typical day like for you?

‘Our workdays are spent surveying South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA) a unique aggregation site where juvenile whale sharks aggregate naturally, year-round. When we spot a shark, we enter the water with our volunteers to collect observational data on the individual. Most important of all is getting a shot of the pectoral area; each individual has a unique spot pattern which we photograph and store in our database. When individuals are encountered we run their photo ID through pattern recognition software to hopefully get a match for an existing individual. This process is simple, accessible for citizen scientists, non-invasive and allows us to track the movement of whale sharks as well as their overall health and growth rates.’ - Chloe Winn

Tell us about your research findings on the whale sharks of the Maldives?

In the programme’s 14 years of research, MWSRP have come to believe that these predominantly juvenile male individuals are using the area of SAMPA as a secondary nursery. More specifically, we found that the Maldives aggregation consists of 91% male individuals with a calculated maturity age of 25 years and longevity of around 130 years (Perry et al., 2018).

We have also found that this ‘staging ground’ for juvenile sharks has the highest re-sighting rate of individual sharks anywhere in the world. This has been determined with the help of citizen scientist data, as well as our own survey data, which is submitted via our whale shark database and citizen science platform called the Big Fish Network (BFN). Since it launched in 2013, BFN and our network of contributors (over 130), consisting of largely of local guesthouse and resort guides, has grown a lot and to date we have identified 520 whale shark individuals with their help. This invaluable contribution of data has also led to the observation of inter-atoll movements made by some individuals, further highlighting the need for monitoring areas and assess if they could also be given protections.

Our recent findings have been steered by a desire to provide decision-makers in the Maldives with the information they need to put effective management measures in place. As such we’ve focused heavily on the impact of whale shark tourism and where we need to mitigate any pressures we’re exerting in our desire to have amazing encounters. Our impact as humans can be obvious; entanglement in fishing gear for example, or subtle and hard to quantify, like disturbance of key behaviours. The starkest evidence of human impact we observe are the injuries exhibited by whale sharks, that are caused by collisions with vessels traveling at speed. South Ari MPA is an area of increased tourism and vessel activity and as a result, has one of the highest injury rates in the world. We found that the percentage of sharks with major injuries (that is, injuries that are potentially life-threatening) has increased from 24% in 2006 to 45% as of 2019. We cannot say with absolute certainty whether injuries are being sustained within the SAMPA region, but it remains that the increase is alarming and we hope these findings are a catalyst for stewardship in those areas where high densities of boat traffic and whale sharks coexist. There is currently a draft management plan in the works which the Environmental Protection Agency have been working on for a couple of years now with a view to deploy park rangers on SAMPA who will regulate the encounter ensuring the welfare of the sharks. - Chloe Winn

Photography // Basith Mohamed — Photography // **Basith Mohamed**

What do you recommend is the best way to encounter a whale shark to ensure no negative impact on the individual?

‘When snorkelling or diving with a whale shark, there are some guidelines which need following to ensure minimal impact on the shark. By following this code of conduct you are more likely to have a longer encounter and be able to observe the whale shark behaving naturally. Most importantly, do not touch the shark. Sharks are not a tactile species and will most likely leave the encounter if you do touch it. Secondly, keep a distance of 3 metres from the body and 4 metres from the caudal fin. If you are too close to the shark it may perceive you as a threat and leave the encounter. Putting a good distance between yourself and the shark gives it room to leave and change direction freely. Thirdly, do not obstruct the shark. Swimming in front of the shark may be tempting to get your photo of that big mouth, however, this can cause the shark to become evasive and leave the encounter. When entering the water, we recommend doing it at a fair distance of around 20 metres from the shark to avoid disturbance or injury from the boat to the shark. Enter the water from a seated position to reduce noise and when in the water keep noise to a minimum. Whale sharks have the biggest eardrum in the animal kingdom so they are bound to be sensitive to noisy commotion!’ - Chloe Winn

FAQ’s on Sustainable Whale Shark Excursions in Maldives

This animation is produced by the MWSRP in collaboration with the Maldivian government to encourage whale shark tourism best practice in the Maldives. By using this video to brief staff and tourists it is hoped that tour operators will be able to provide a safer and more enjoyable experience for their guests and the whale sharks.

When did you first pick up a camera and start shooting underwater?

‘My predominant interaction with photography while in-field is when I'm collecting I.D. shots of the whale shark individuals we encounter. When I did my internship with MWSRP, this was really the first time I had been able to explore underwater photography, and from there it has evolved into a passion as well as a necessary component of the job. I'm still at the beginnings of my photography journey and hopefully, there will be more opportunity to explore this when we return in-field.’ - Basith Mohamed

‘My first underwater photograph was taken using a disposable waterproof camera, I was travelling with my parents through to Galapagos Islands. I managed to take a blurry shot of a Galapagos sea lion and an iguana!’ - Clara Cánovas Pérez

Photography // OCL Storyteller Kaush - @kaushman — Photography // **OCL Storyteller Kaush -** @kaushman

A short montage of MWSRP footage, created by Mohamed Khayyam for us as the opening piece to the 2nd Annual Maldives Whale Shark Festival!

What/who currently inspires you?

‘The photography and journey of William Winram really inspired me. He has a great ethos in regards to freediving, a passion of mine, and has been advocating for shark conservation for around 30 years now.’ - Basith Mohamed

As an organisation, we’ve built a strong connection with other wildlife organisations and individual marine conservationists, each with an array of skills and creativity and they very much inspire and motivate us! We feel strongly that an interdisciplinary approach to conservation through the means of arts, photography, writing, outreach initiatives and podcasts can be very successful in further amplifying the whale shark conservation message! Some of our recent MWSRP alumni with such skills include Kaush Subramaniam, Hannah Rudd and Lewis Jefferies.

A short documentary that explores the culture, history, conservation and future of the Whale Shark in the Maldives - through stories from the local people. - Film by Lewis Michael Jefferies

What path did you choose after leaving school?

‘After I left school I went to University to study costume making. Yes, it's very different from my job now. My passion for the ocean has always been there but it was only after I got off the treadmill of education, and volunteered for various organisations including MWSRP, that I really had time to explore my passion for the ocean in a deeper way. There are times when I wish I had studied marine sciences formally, however, I feel my creative skill has lended itself brilliantly to the outreach and engagement work we do with local communities. Art can be a great universal communicator; connecting people to the plight of the ocean and making them more aware and reflective about their own relationship to nature. When story-telling through art and media meets science it can make conservation more accessible, more effective and start conversations which is important for galvanising change.’ - Chloe Winn

‘I started an Environmental Science degree just after I finished school. I was very interested in environmental education and marine conservation, I grew up on an island seeing the negative effects of mass tourism and felt an urge to pursue this career. My first job in the field was for a sustainable fisheries management project in a National Park. I was studying for a Masters Degree in Marine Ecology at the same time. After this, I worked as a nature guide for a couple of years and then ended up in the Maldives where it all started!’ - Clara Cánovas Pérez

What do you value most in life?

‘Nature - Once we are gone, nature will still be there. The wonders of nature fosters within us the urge to help protect it.’ - Clara Cánovas Pérez

Are there any books/documentaries that have guided your thinking?

‘The Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson. Reason for Hope by Jane Goodall. Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Henry David Thoreau’s writing; due to the way he described his deep connection and appreciation for nature. Herman Melville and his powerful writing and imagery in regards to the ocean. Philip Hoare’s books have also captivated me!’ - Clara Cánovas Pérez

‘David Attenborough documentaries have been a big influence on me throughout my life, a staple for any conservationist it seems! The film Chasing Coral inspired me to learn more about corals and other ecosystem foundation organisms. My top books are: What a Fish Knows by Jonathan Balcombe, Metazoa by Peter Godfrey-Smith, The Shark and the Albatross by the nature photographer John Aitchinson and Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall-Kimmerer.’ - Chloe Winn

What legacy do you hope to leave?