Center for Fisheries Research and Development
Whale Shark Research
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The world’s largest fish, the whale shark, is currently listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Animals. In an attempt to develop a risk assessment for this species to aid in conservation efforts, researchers from The University of Â鶹´«Ã½-Center for Fisheries Research and Development, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and Blue World Research Institute (BWRI) are collaborating on a two-year study. During this study, whale sharks in the Gulf of Mexico will be tagged to gather telemetry and behavioral information to increase knowledge about the species and to help inform BOEM’s decision making for offshore energy development.
In 2023, we have tagged 10 whale sharks. Many thanks to the Okaloosa Coastal Resource Team for their collaboration in this effort.
Whale Sharks Tagged in 2023
Oliver
- ~25-ft
- Male
- Tagged off Destin, FL on July 19, 2023
Johnny
- ~25-ft
- Male
- Tagged off Destin, FL on July 29, 2023
Tucker
- ~20-ft
- Male
- Tagged off Destin, FL on July 29, 2023
Dotty
- ~25-ft
- Female
- Tagged off Destin, FL on July 29, 2023
Lorelai
- ~35-ft
- Female
- Tagged off Destin, FL on July 29, 2023
Smalls
- ~15-ft
- Male
- Tagged off Destin, FL on July 31, 2023
Big Mel
- ~30-ft
- Male
- Tagged of Destin, FL on August 2, 2023
The University of Â鶹´«Ã½-Center for Fisheries Research and Development has been studying whale sharks in the Gulf of Mexico for the last two decades.
- Hoffmayer, E.R., McKinney, J.A., Franks, J.S., Hendon, J.M. Driggers III, W.B., Falterman, B., Galuardi, B., and Byrne, M. 2020. Seasonal occurrence, horizontal movements, and habitat use patterns of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) in the Gulf of Mexico. Frontiers in Marine Science. 7:598515.
- Rooker, J., M. Dance, R.J.D. Wells, M. Ajemian, B. Block, M. Castleton, J.M. Drymon, B. Falterman, J. Franks, N. Hammerschlag, J. Hendon, E. Hoffmayer, R. Kraus, J. McKinney, D. Secor, G. Stunz, and J. Walter. 2019. Population connectivity of pelagic megafauna in the Cuba-Mexico-United States triangle. Scientific Reports. 9: 1663.
- McKinney, J.A., Hoffmayer, E.R., Franks, J.S., Hendon, J.M., Driggers III, W.B. 2013. Seasonal habitat use of whale sharks in the northern Gulf of Mexico, USA 2003 - 2013. PeerJ PrePrints 1:e93v1
- Hoffmayer, E.R., McKinney, J.A., Franks, J.S., Hendon, J.M., Driggers III, W.B. 2013. Whale Shark Aggregations in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. PeerJ PrePrints 1:e85v1.
- McKinney, J.A., Hoffmayer, E.R., Wu, W., Fulford, R., and Hendon, J.M. 2012. Feeding habitat of the whale shark, Rhincodon typus, in the northern Gulf of Mexico determined using species distribution modeling. Marine Ecological Progress Series 458: 199-211.