Sentinel of the sea

Instead of killing the vulnerable whale shark, fishermen on the Gujarat coast now protect it, thanks to an innovative campaign initiated by Tata Chemicals. The company supported the whale shark conservation programme by offering funds, logistical support and through active volunteering by its employees.

For years, any whale shark that was sighted off the coast of Gujarat met with a bloody end, as fishermen killed the creature for the oil in its liver, its meat and its prized fin. The fish was falsehooked (which means that hooks were flung at its body) with barrels tied to ropes to keep the injured creature afloat. It was then brought ashore for the ritual carving out of valuable body parts.

More than 1,200 whale sharks used to be killed in this manner every year before the Indian government, in 2001, banned the fishing of this breed and trade in its meat. Making the whale shark a protected species under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of India — the highest-ever protection to a species — gave the whale shark a new lease of life.

Today, fisherfolk from these parts nurture the creature, thanks to the initiatives of a dedicated group of people from Tata Chemicals and organisations such as the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the Gujarat Forest Department.

The whale shark — Rhincodon Typus — is the largest fish on earth, growing to over 12 metres or 40 feet in length. This solitary, slow-swimming, gentle giant, classified as a vulnerable species, is no killer. In fact, it is mostly vegetarian, surviving on phytoplankton, macro-algae, small squid and tiny aquatic creatures. The fish visits the coast of Gujarat from September to May each year, traversing thousands of miles along the coasts of Australia and South East Asia, only to encounter death at the hands of ruthless hunters.

The ‘Save the whale shark’ campaign, which kicked off in September 2003, was conceptualised to end the whale shark trade in Gujarat and ensure the long-term survival of the species. It involved all the stakeholders in the whale shark’s universe, including hunters, boatmen, coastal communities, the forest department, the coast guard, school children and conservation NGOs.

The collective effort was so successful that it elicited positive sentiments towards this gentle creature in the minds of the people of the state, encouraging them to take pride in its protection and preservation. The locals who earlier called the whale shark ‘barrel’, with which they used to hunt it, now call it vhali (dear one in Gujarati).

To make this happen, a 40-foot-long inflatable model of the whale shark, perched on a camel cart, was paraded through coastal towns and villages.

Greeted with a tilak (a vermilion dot) and garlands, it made an impressive backdrop as a troupe of actors enacted a street play inspired by a sermon delivered by popular preacher Morari Bapu. In this sermon, Bapu, who came onboard as an ambassador for the cause, likened the whale shark to a married
daughter who returns to her parent’s house to deliver her child, as per Indian tradition. He also spoke about the Indian tradition of honouring guests.

Street plays and exhibitions highlighting the plight of the species were staged along the Gujarat coast, in port towns such as Okha, Beyt Dwarka, Porbandar and Veraval, and children were involved through painting competitions.

The whale shark was adopted as a mascot by the towns of Porbandar, Diu, Dwarka, Okha, Ahmedabad and Verawal-Patan. Additionally, the Gujarat government designated the day of the new moon of the first month in the Hindu calendar as Whale Shark Day. The day marks the official celebration of the arrival of the shark into Indian waters.

Through these initiatives, WTI and Tata Chemicals hoped to improve awareness about the whale shark and the distress it was in. The idea was to evoke in local people the sort of pride that the Gir lions do. The efforts paid off. The initiatives led to a change of heart among large numbers of fishermen. More than 125 whale sharks caught in the nets have been released by fishermen, an admirable turnaround, considering that they not only lost business but also had to cut off their expensive nets in order to release the whale sharks. In recognition of this act of kindness, the Gujarat government has declared a compensation scheme for fishermen who snip through the nets destroying their sole livelihood.

There are, however, miles to go before the world’s oceans and seas become a safe haven for this marine leviathan. In Phase II of the campaign, Tata Chemicals plans to shift focus from Gujarat and launch the campaign nationally, acting on news reports of whale sharks being stranded, trapped or traded in coastal areas elsewhere in the country. To make this possible, the company will have to adapt the campaign in other regional languages.

Tata Chemicals also plans to study ways of establishing ecotourism ventures in the state. The company believes that the whale shark dominates the seas and is an excellent flagship for showcasing marine conservation. Clearly, ecotourism could offer the means for yielding significant economic returns, while ensuring sustainable conservation of the species.

The company also hopes to improve its knowledge of the whale shark and study its habits, life cycle, etc. A whale shark study centre is being set up at Mithapur. There is a greater emphasis on research to understand the whale shark better. Tools such as satellite tagging and aerial surveys could generate more information about the annual migration and breeding habits of this gigantic creature. All these inputs will be used to strengthen the ‘Save the whale shark’ campaign.

Tata Chemicals and the other organisations who are working with it in this laudable endeavour have much to be proud of. The collaboration has converted hunters into protectors and changed the fate of the whale shark from a fish that was cruelly hunted to one that is now cherished as a beloved daughter and an honoured guest.

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