Whalesharks in Cenderawasih Bay

[Mike Veitch]

Here is a short video of some of my recent visits to the whale sharks of Cenderawasih Bay in Papua province, Indonesia. Although we only encountered a max of 5 at a time, these sharks hung around with us for 3 whole days. For those of you not aware of what is going on, the sharks in the bay have formed a relationship with the fishermen who live on the fishing platforms and the fishermen feed the whalesharks bait fish. This has been going on for many years and its an absolutely fantastic photo opportunity, I was just there for 3 trips, including one where I was teaching a photography workshop. Although photos are great, I think this little video with my D90 shows what is going on a little bit better. Enjoy!

[video=youtube_share;rp8ijGj3wtk]http://youtu.be/rp8ijGj3wtk[/video]

 

[Bali Diver]

Indeed the whalesharks of cenderwasih bay are very special.A lot of work has gone on in the area to protect them with the conservation,WWF and non profitable organisation of Ahe Island and strict rules with behaviour when around the whalesharks.

It has been a big concern this year with now liveaboards coming to the area this summer in numbers to see the whalesharks making lots of money and contributing very little and rules with regards to behaviour around the whalesharks being ignored to please the paying guest.

Those fears has come much quicker than expected and last couple of months lots of problems with liveaboards.

many divers at same time diving with whalesharks
divers spending long time underwater on each dive with whalesharks ( 1 HOUR MAX )
DIVERS PLAYING,TOUCHING AND GRASPING WHALESHARKS
crews on liveaboards becoming angry when told to maintain the rules
Many DIVERS USING FLASH with their camera's,again not allowed
chasing and blocking paths of whalesharks
dives not conducted in a controlled manner

All very sad and worse fears happening.It is now going to be suggested that no diving being allowed with the whalesharks and only snorkelling to be allowed to help protect the whalesharks,which would be a great shame and at the same time i doubt liveaboards would continue to come then.

VERY SAD !

 

[Mike Veitch]

Please start your own thread about this.. my video is not the place for it.

Thanks

 

[instructorinasia]

Nice work mike!

 

[Bali Diver]

Please start your own thread about this.. my video is not the place for it.

Thanks

Sorry mike,thought with being about Whalesharks in Cenderwasih bay it would be and with you being there recently,this may of concerned you and that the rules must be maintained,what boat was you on ?

 

[andyfish]

Nice video Mike.

But having wild animals fed for entertainment and profit is very sad.

Professionals like yourself should make a stand on this issue.

Many visiting tourists think being surrounded by begging orangutans at a for profit "rehabilitation project" is a wildlife experience. The tourists do not know any better or they do not care as long as they get some close up photos.

Cenderawasih is the marine version of the tame orangutan feeding.

I have to wonder what motivates a professional to recommend a wild animal encounter by feeding experience. Can they really have the animals best interest at heart ?

With whaleshark feeding growing more and more popular in the Philipines, reports of whalesharks being injured by the propellers of the very boats that are attracting them are circulating.

Its not natural to hand feed orangutans bannanas or whalesharks fish and it is harmful to change any animals behavior to make it dependent on food provided by humans.

Those whalesharks are not eating their normal diet, they are more or less permanently in a highly polluted area around the boats bilge pumps and they must filter huge amounts of suncream and other polutants.

Attracting large slow moving marine animals to boats is a recipe for prop injuries.

There are plenty of areas in the world such as Mozambique that offer high chances of a natural encounter with whalesharks. Why support seeing them at Cederawasih "petting zoo" ?

 

[Zippsy]

Nice video Mike.

I'd also like to bring attention to the poor starving children of Africa. If only the fishermen would give their baitfish to those children instead of the whalesharks, the children could survive for a bit longer.

 

[Tippytoes12]

Mike

Did you visit on a LOB ? If so which one ?

This is a difficult issue and I can see both sides. Having seen lions for instance surrounded by safari vehicles on numerous occasions in Africa on one had maes me feel sorry for the poor creatures. However if tourists weren't visiting and contributing , then you wonder how many lions would still be there. Then if the lions and other wildlife is wiped out , far fewer tourists would visit , and people may be evn poorer.

The people who live on some remote Indonesian islands are desperately poor and I certainly cannot blame them for trying to earn a few dollars. Many western divers work hard to afford holidays were they can see amazing creatures like whalesharks , that have been wiped out elsewhere and not by divers and certainly not by extremely poor Indonesian islanders working off little wooden boats.

Life's not perfect , we kind of have to compromise sometimes.

 

[Zippsy]

There are many sides to this argument. I'm just disappointed that Mike has chosen to put his video in the middle of this thread to try to deflect attention from the true arguments. I hope some moderator moves that post to a more appropriate thread of its own so that everyone can have their say on the good and bad of diving at Cenderawasih Bay.

 

[ScubaSteve]

Guys....this thread is about the video that Mike took. Nothing more or less. Start your own thread about the rules and the good, the bad and the ugly of Cenderawasih Bay. Link to Mike's thread if you want. I think your points are very valid BUT this is not the place. This thread is about a video of some magical creatures that Mike wanted to share with the readers of ScubaBoard.