Over 1,000 whale sharks entangled in fishing nets along Gujarat, Kerala coasts free

Mumbai: In a monumental achievement for marine conservation, the Wildlife Trust of India’s (WTI) 'Pan India Whale Shark Project' has facilitated the rescue and release of 1,001 whale sharks accidentally entangled in fishing nets along the coasts of Gujarat and Kerala in the past two decades.

This incredible milestone underscores the compassion of India’s fishing communities and the dedicated conservation efforts of WTI since 2004, according to a WTI press statement.

The latest rescue took place on the auspicious day of ‘Pongal’ or ‘Makar Sankranti’ in Achutheghu, Thiruvananthapuram, where fishers freed a whale shark caught in a fishing net, and guided it back into the sea.

This marked the 34th rescue in Kerala under WTI’s “Pan India Whale Shark Project” launched in the state in 2017 in collaboration with the Kerala Forest Department and Fisheries Department, and supported by VST Industries Limited.

To date, the project in Gujarat has facilitated the return of 967 whale sharks to their natural ocean habitat, as a result of the unwavering dedication of various stakeholders.

Saymanti B, Office In-Charge, Natural Heritage Campaigns, WTI said: “For the past seven years, this project in Kerala has thrived through unwavering community support. The 34th rescue from our project site stands as a testament to the power of successful private partnerships. These achievements would not have been possible without the incredible collaboration of the fishing community, and supportive collaborators and donors.”

These incredible efforts trace their origins back to 2004 with the initial launch of this project in Gujarat with support from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Tata Chemicals Ltd and the Gujarat Forest Department, to combat the alarming mass hunting of these gentle giants.

Highlighted in Mike Pandey’s Green Oscar-winning documentary Shores of Silence, their plight gained global attention.

Additionally, a TRAFFIC India report in 2001 documented 600 landings during 1999 and 2000.

Farukhkha Bloch, Head of PAN India Whale Shark Project, WTI, said, “Saurashtra coast of Gujarat hosts a preferred aggregation habitat for whale sharks to meet their biological needs, especially females to give birth to young ones and feed planktons. WTI in collaboration with Gujarat Forest Department joined hands to understand the biological preferences and study the movement patterns of Whale Sharks off Gujarat waters.”