This document summarizes information about whale sharks, including their biology, distribution, conservation status, and management and trade in Taiwan. It discusses Taiwan's regulatory framework and monitoring system for whale sharks. Catch and trade data are presented showing a decline in whale shark catch sizes near Taiwan. Market survey findings suggest whale shark meat and products are still available in Taiwanese markets, despite the declining populations. Recommendations include investigating claims of illegally imported whale shark meat and promoting alternative uses like ecotourism.
2. Biology of Whale Shark
• Ontogenetic allometry • Aggregating at seasonal
plankton blooms and
• a. 56 cm foetus invertebrate mass
spawning.
• b. 700 cm subadult
Martin, 2007
5. Taiwan’s Shark Fishery
• Catched by
• harpoon
• set net
• Sold as
• (smoky) shark meal
• shark fin
6. FAO s International Plan
of Action for Sharks
1. Sustainable catches 7. Minimize waste and
discards from shark
2. Assess threats, and catches
protect critical habitats
8. Encourage full use of
3. Attention to vulnerable dead sharks
stocks
9. Species-specific catch
4. Effective consultation and landings data
5. Minimize incidental 10.Reporting of species
catches specific biological and
trade data.
6. Protection of biodiversity
and ecosystem
7. Conservation Status
• IUCN’s Red List
• CITES
• Appendix I
• The Bonn Convention
• The convention of the migratory species of
wild animals
• Appendix II: unfavourable conservation status
• UN fish stocks agreement
8. Taiwan’s regulatory
framework
• The Fisheries Law
• Limit or prohibit harvest, sale, fishing gear
and fishing in certain grounds or periods
• The Wildlife Conservation Law
• According to CITES
• The Foreign Trade Act
• Restriction of exports and imports
• Monitory system
9. Monitory system
• Ban harvesting
• Whale shark
• Report after catch
• Basking shark
• Megamouth shark
• Great white
10. Methods
• Analysis of catch and trade data
• compared with TRAFFIC-India data
• Trade and market survey
• 85 marketplaces
• 1600 retail seafood stalls
• Restaurants => Telephone surveys
• DNA analysis
• Literature review and interview
21. Catch data
• Apparent decline in catch could be
attributable to a reduction in Whale
Shark numbers.
• Whale Sharks harvested around
Taiwan < 7 m in length and averaged
4.65 m (average 7.7 m at maturity).
(Fowler, 2000)
22. Market data
• Market having grown significantly
since the mid-80s.
• Localized availability
• need to process and sell quickly owing
to rapid build up of ammonia
23. Comparing market and
catch data
• approximately 27 t of meat could be obtained
from this catch
• Taipei sold a total volume of 42 t of Whale
Shark between Jan and Aug 2001
• Imported illegally from India and Philippines.
• Current political situation between China and
Taiwan
• Whale Sharks caught near Taiwan have
tender meat
25. Recommendations
• Investigate the claims that imported Whale
Shark meat is entering Taiwan through
unofficial channels and, if necessary,
introduce measures to address this
• Review the merits of alternative uses of
Whale Shark, such as ecotourism, by
conducting a feasibility study
• Promote international co-operation, for
example, tagging
26. Reference
• Martin, R. A. (2007). quot;A review of
behavioural ecology of whale sharks
(Rhincodon typus).quot; Fisheries
Research 84(1): 10-16.