NASA technology can help save whale sharks, says Australian marine biologist and founder of ECOCEAN Brad Norman

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To help protect the species, Australian marine biologist Brad Norman co-founded The Wildbook for Whale Sharks, a photo identification database that came online in 2003.

Members of the public, scientists, and whale shark tour operators around the world provide photos of whale sharks to the system, which uses NASA technology to map their locations and track their movements. Today, the database contains more than 70,000 submissions from over 50 countries, making it one of the largest participatory conservation projects in the world.

Despite their imposing size – whale sharks can be up to 20 meters (65 feet) long – these gentle giants pose no danger to swimmers. Feeding on plankton and tiny marine organisms, they sail at a maximum of three miles per hour, allowing snorkelers and snorkelers to come close.

Norman has studied these charismatic creatures for over 25 years. He first swam with a whale shark in the turquoise waters of the Ningaloo Reef on the north coast of Western Australia. “It was one of the most incredible experiences I have ever had,” he recalls. “I will never forget him.”

Marine biologist Brad Norman photographing a whale shark.

This whale shark – nicknamed Stumpy because of its warped tail – was the first entry in a photo ID library created by Norman in 1995. The library, later managed by Norman conservation organization ECOCEAN, became the founding of The Wildbook for Whale Sharks.
Read: She filmed sharks for ‘Jaws’ – then dedicated her life to protecting them

A slow swimmer, Stumpy is relatively easy to follow, Norman says. “I see him almost every year and … I think ‘G’day mate, how you goin’?”

Since that first encounter, Norman has swam with whale sharks a thousand times – and says he always gets the buzz every time.

Why NASA’s tech works for whale sharks

Images submitted to The Wildbook for Whale Sharks are analyzed by an algorithm that scans for spots and scratches on the animal’s skin, which are as unique as a human fingerprint, Norman explains. The algorithm identifies the shark by searching the database for a matching model.

Whale sharks are identified by the markings on their skin.

Adapted from technology first developed for NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope program, the algorithm works for whale sharks because their markings on the skin form star-like patterns in the night sky.

Norman says that collectively, data on the locations and migration routes of whale sharks inform decisions on management strategies for habitat protection. “I can only be in one place at a time,” he says. “It is so important that members of the public participate in our project.”

Is swimming with whale sharks good for them?

Norman said he would “encourage anyone who has the opportunity to swim with a whale shark.”

But more boats, snorkelers and divers in the whale shark areas could be problematic. Norman cautions that the impact on sharks must be minimized.

In Western Australia, whale shark tour operators are strictly regulated with limits on the number of people and vessels allowed in the water near animals at any one time – and a percentage of sales is intended for managing the whale shark industry.

However, regulation and enforcement are weaker in other places.

In the Maldives, whale sharks are a popular attraction, but government guidelines designed to protect sharks from harassment are frequently violated. This can cause stress to animals, while injuries from collisions with boats can impact their development and their ability to travel long distances.
Whale sharks in the Philippines are regularly given food to attract them to places where visitors can easily see them. This can alter sharks’ diving habits and metabolism, while a high level of scarring indicates an increase in collisions with boats. Overcrowding due to tourism and food can also lead to the degradation of coral reefs.

But where whale shark tourism is practiced responsibly, it can help save the species. Norman hopes to see more data collection around the world, filling information gaps and strengthening conservation efforts. He’s looking for what he calls “the holy grail” – to find out where whale sharks will mate. Protecting their breeding grounds is “the one important thing” needed to save the species in the long term, he says. The help of thousands of citizen scientists gives it a better chance to make this possible.

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