Where the whale sharks are: An innovative satellite tagging programme to track the movements of whale sharks from Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

Whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia, do not undertake long trans-oceanic migrations but instead make shorter forays along the coast or to nearby foraging areas. This finding emerges from an innovative satellite tagging programme that tracked 12 whale sharks using Wildlife Computers SPOT tags over periods ranging from 15 to 156 days (mean: 93.4 ± 13.1 SE). Preliminary data revealed homing migrations to the southern part of Ningaloo Reef, with sharks returning within 44 to 93 days (mean: 65.7 ± 7.8 SE), indicating commuting and foraging behaviors critical for conservation planning. The study also pioneered an educational initiative, funding tags through school participation in a STEM-focused learning programme, which engaged students from pre-primary to senior high school levels. This dual-purpose approach not only advanced scientific understanding but also fostered marine awareness and education.

Reynolds, S. D., Normans, B. M., Wilson, R. P., Bushell, H., Neill, S. O., & Morgan, D. L. (2016). Where the whale sharks are: An innovative satellite tagging programme to track the movements of whale sharks from Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. The 4th International Whale Shark Conference. https://doi.org/10.5339/qproc.2016.iwsc4.50