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Environmental Factors Influencing Whale Shark Occurrence and Movements at Mafia Island, Tanzania

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Environmental Factors Influencing Whale Shark Occurrence and Movements at Mafia Island, Tanzania ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS INFLUENCING WHALE SHARK OCCURRENCE AND MOVEMENTS AT MAFIA ISLAND, TANZANIA Christoph A. Rohner & Simon J. Pierce | Marine Megafauna Foundation Michael Berumen, Jesse Cochran & Fernando Cagua | KAUST University Mathias Igulu & Baraka Kuguru | Tanzanian Fisheries Research Institute Jason Rubens | World Wide Fund for Nature WWF Project Report Environmental factors influencing whale shark occurrence & movements at Mafia Island, Tanzania Christoph A. Rohner 1 & Simon J. Pierce 1,2 Michael Berumen3,4, Jesse Cochran3 & Fernando Cagua3 Mathias Igulu5 & Baraka Kuguru5 Jason Rubens6 1 Manta Ray and Whale Shark Research Centre, Marine Megafauna Foundation, Praia do Tofo, Inhambane, Mozambique 2 Wild Me, Praia do Tofo, Inhambane, Mozambique 3 Coral Reef Ecology Laboratory, Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia 4 Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States of America 5 Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (TAFIRI), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 6 World Wide Fund for Nature, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Chris Rohner: [email protected] +255 (0)76 490 0044 Simon Pierce: [email protected] +44 74 288 39945 Michael Berumen: [email protected] +966 54 470 0019 Mathias Igulu: [email protected] +255 (0)78 684 4878 Jason Rubens: [email protected] +255 (0)75 422 9450 WWF – Mafia Island whale shark study 1. Executive Summary The whale shark Rhincodon typus is the largest fish in the world. Its size, gentle nature and tendency to swim at the surface in predictable coastal aggregation sites means that it can be a focal species for marine tourists. Whale sharks are categorised on the IUCN Red List as ‘Vulnerable’ to extinction following fishery-induced declines in some parts of the world. Research on this species has been conducted mainly at coastal aggregation sites, where scientists have access to an otherwise oceanic, migratory shark. Mafia Island off the coast of Tanzania is one of these coastal aggregation sites. The present whale shark study expanded upon an initial WWF-funded study during 2007-09 that described this aggregation site. Here, we examined the influence of environmental variables on whale shark presence and sightings at Mafia Island. To accomplish this, we measured local variables (e.g. with a weather station), and investigated regional oceanographic processes, as well as examining shark population structure, local movements, feeding ecology, interactions with fishers and the human threats present around Mafia Island. Active fieldwork by the project team was conducted between October 2012 and March 2013, with some aspects of the study continuing to June 2013. Compared to reports from previous years, we saw more individual sharks and had more encounters during the 2012/13 season. We photographically identified 87 different whale sharks and had a sightings success rate per boat trip of 72%, with an average of 4.8 individuals seen per trip. The highest number of sharks per trip was seen in November (6.1) and Dec (7.8), while the activity peak (sum of acoustic detections of 30 tagged sharks) was in January. This was earlier than expected from previous reports, which described a peak in sightings from December to March. In the present study, while boat-based sightings ceased in March, some acoustic detections continued into May. These data, and additional sighting reports from local fishers, suggest that at least some whale sharks are likely to be present off Mafia Island over longer periods than previously recognized. Acoustic detections after March 2013 were mostly offshore and from sharks swimming deeper in the water column, accounting for the reduced sightings by surface- based observers. Continuation of this study into 2014 will improve our understanding of year- round site use by the sharks. The population structure of Mafia Island whale sharks was broadly similar to other aggregations in the Indian Ocean, comprising mostly male (83%) and juvenile (97%) sharks. The sharks ranged from 415–917 cm in total length as determined with laser photogrammetry. Of the 27 sharks photographed in Mafia prior to our study, 18 were seen again this season, indicating a high degree of site fidelity. Another shark was previously identified in Mozambique indicating there is at least some limited connectivity between these two aggregation sites. An array of 19 acoustic receivers was positioned around Kilindoni Bay to detect 29 whale sharks that were equipped with acoustic transmitter tags. Over 54,000 detections were recorded from November 2012 to May 2013, showing that whale sharks were highly active in the area. The acoustic receiver range at which 50% of signals were detected was 367 m. Acoustic activity continued throughout the study in contrast to whale shark sightings, which ceased in March. The likely cause for the discrepancy is a shift in whale shark habitat selection toward deeper, offshore areas. WWF – Mafia Island whale shark study Apart from showing high-use of Kilindoni Bay, whale sharks also had a long average residency time in the immediate area; 42 days determined by photo-ID and 73 days determined by acoustic telemetry. They likely stayed close to Mafia Island for a long time because of the high prey availability. Whale sharks were usually sighted while they were feeding at the surface. Zooplankton analysis revealed that the most important prey taxon was the sergestid shrimp Lucifer hanseni, which comprised almost 50% of identified items from plankton samples collected near feeding whale sharks. By contrast, copepods dominated the plankton from samples taken in locations where whale sharks were not feeding. Sergestids are larger than copepods and thus the plankton biomass was 10 times higher during feeding events than when sharks were not feeding. Furthermore, the sardines (dagaa) targeted by the local ring net fishery were frequently seen feeding on the same sergestid shrimps, often associated with whale sharks. This co-feeding behaviour leads to conflict between whale sharks and fishers. Fisher observations showed that whale sharks were seen mainly in two locations: in Kilindoni Bay, where this ecology study was situated, and near Koma Island which is located close to the mainland 50km north-west of Kilindoni. This secondary hotspot for sightings may warrant further investigation in future seasons. Of the 147 fishing trips where fishers recorded whale shark presence/absence, sharks interfered with fishing operations on 18 occasions and were trapped inside the ring net 12 times. Fishers tried to let the sharks escape, but sometimes their fishing gear (and potentially the shark) was damaged in the process. No direct whale shark mortality was reported, although apparently this has occurred on a small number of occasions in the past (L. Mokoki pers. comm.). Whale sharks at Mafia Island are subject to anthropogenic pressures that may affect their survival, or at least their normal behaviour. We investigated this by looking at the scars on the bodies of surviving sharks during routine photo-ID activities. The majority of whale sharks had a scar (75%) and, although most scars were minor, this indicates that collisions with boats are common. Scarring was more prevalent here than in whale sharks at the Seychelles (67%), Mozambique (37%) and Australia (27%) (Speed et al. 2008). Abrasions on the dorsal ridge and fins were likely caused by contact with a boat hull, while engine propellers likely inflicted lacerations. Most scars appeared to be caused by small boats, such as the tourist boats that engage in whale shark viewing and by dagaa fishing boats. Improved adherence to the code of conduct by tourism vessels could reduce this threat, and we recommend a second skipper/guide workshop at the start of the next season. Continuation of the dialogue with fishers is also recommended, both for obtaining data and disseminating information. We used a modelling approach to investigate potential variables influencing whale shark sightings and presence at Mafia Island. Local factors were important drivers of whale shark presence off Mafia Island, explaining a large amount of the variance in the generalised linear models (sightings model = 84%; acoustic model =71%). The most important factors driving whale shark sightings at the surface were the month, and the proportion of whale sharks that were observed feeding. Month was also the most important predictor in the acoustic model. Many of the significant factors appeared to indirectly affect whale shark presence through influencing the availability of their macrozooplankton prey. Overall, we found the Mafia Island whale shark aggregation to be composed of mostly juvenile, male sharks and with a clear seasonal peak in sightings, similar to other aggregations in the Western Indian Ocean. The sharks were mostly seen at the surface when feeding, and the feeding zooplankton samples indicated that sergestid shrimps were the main component of their day-time WWF – Mafia Island whale shark study diet. Other environmental variables are likely to impact the position of the sergestids in the water column, and thus the visibility of feeding whale sharks. While the origin of the productivity in Kilindoni Bay remains to be determined, it appeared that regional-scale oceanography does not play a major role. The Rufiji river outflow on the mainland side of the bay could be important, however the seasonality of its peak flow (and thus nutrient input) and high whale shark sightings do not overlap. 2. Acknowledgements This project was funded by WWF Switzerland, our thanks to Doris Calegari for her support. In-kind contribution in the form of acoustic equipment and personnel time was provided by KAUST. Project management support was provided by WWF Tanzania: we thank Haji Machano, Kennedy Mawole, Jacqueline Ngowi, Victor Myovela, Zainab Ismail, Emiliana Semuguruka and all WWF-TZ staff for their help and support of our project. On Mafia we thank Liberatus Mokoki for sharing his local knowledge, and Gregory, Matthew, Hamisi and Afro for captaining our boats.
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