Whale shark in the Indian coast - Need for conservation

摘要

Occurrence of whale sharks in India was considered a rarity until recently. Details of whale sharks that have landed so far in the Indian coasts are summarized. The whale shark has become a regular fishery in successive years off Gujarat coast for its meat, fins, liver, skin and cartilage. Over 1000 whale sharks have been hunted off Saurashtra coast during 1998. The present paper gives an account on the year-wise, season-wise, state-wise, depth-wise and gearwise distribution and occurrence of whale sharks, based on incidental landings and capture, in Indian coastal waters from 1889 to 1998. The threat to the whale shark due to commercial exploitation, its utilization and the need for conservation is discussed. [References: 73]