ECOCEAN Whale Shark Research and Conservation

ECOCEAN, a not-for-profit group with offices in Australia and th USA, has involved scientists and members of the public in an innovative online photo-identification survey to learn more about the biggest fish in the ocean. Thus far, the project has photo-tagged nearly 2000 sharks worldwide. With the simple click of an underwater camera and a visit to www.whaleshark.org anyone and everyone can be a part of this global effort to better understand the 'gentle giants' of our oceans. And with the whale shark officially listed as 'vulnerable to extinction' on the World Conservation Union's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, the time to act is now.

1. Help photograph, identify, and protect the whale shark

2. Whale sharks are listed as 'vulnerable to extinction' on the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species

3. Whale sharks are protected in only 10 percent of the over 100 countries that they are known to visit

4. With few natural predators, the most significant threat to the whale shark is human activity

5. For more information, visit: www.whaleshark.org and www.ecocean.org