Research and Monitoring
The accessibility of the seasonal aggregation of whale sharks in the south eastern Mozambique and Sodwana Bay regions provide an excellent opportunity for researchers to undertake studies of this rarely encountered and poorly understood shark.
Initial research efforts lacked clearly defined objectives and were often hampered by limited scientific research of whale shark biology and ecology. Some aspects of this research should seek to provide information to environmental management bodies in order to minimize possible detrimental impacts of tourism pressure.
Researchers studying whale sharks should "move beyond the purely descriptive natural history approach and design and implement sustained programs of investigation, using the most advanced equipment and techniques".
In developing a scientifically objective research and monitoring program, there are a number of factors to be considered, including ethical and logistical issues.
Research should be of a non-invasive nature if at all possible, and must not cause the animals unnecessary stress.
The large size free-swimming epi-pelagic nature and sporadic appearance of whale sharks makes study of these animals intrinsically difficult and creates numerous technical and methodological problems.
As has been seen with cetacean research, the time required and complexity of programs examining any large marine animal must be considered at the design stage.
There are also obstacles in initiating further research in areas where a whale shark watching industry is already in place.
Attempts to investigate the population size and structure may suffer from sample size and range problems and serious population studies require large sample sizes which is a major problem when working with rarely encountered species, especially if individuals cannot be captured or restrained.
Accurate morphometric data and samples for age/growth determination (such as vertebral centra) can only be obtained from restrained or dead animals.
Research and monitoring studies must be properly designed and have access to the necessary resources to ensure that their objectives are achieved.