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In-water shark-based tourism is growing worldwide and whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are one of the most popular targets of this industry. It is important to monitor tourism industries to minimize any potential impacts on target species. At Ningaloo, Western Australia, Electronic Monitoring Systems (EMS) have been installed on licensed tour vessels to collect information on encounters between snorkelers and whale sharks. This study combined data from the EMS with whale shark identification photographs, to assess the impact of in-water tourism on the encounter duration for individual sharks. During 2011 and 2012, 948 encounters with 229 individual sharks were recorded using EMS. Encounter durations between whale sharks and tourism vessels ranged between 1 and 59 min (mean = 11 min 42 s, SD = ±11 min 19 s). We found no evidence for a decline in encounter duration after repeated tourist encounters with individual sharks. Encounter duration varied among tourism operator vessels and were shorter when the sex of the whale shark could not be identified. Given that individual sharks were swum with on average 2.4 times per day (± SD 2.08), and up to 16 times over the course of the study, our results suggest that there is no evidence of long-term impacts of tourism on the whale sharks at Ningaloo. However, the inclusion of well-defined categories of whale shark behaviors and information regarding how interactions between tourists and whale sharks end will complement the data already collected by the EMS. This preliminary investigation demonstrates the potential for the EMS as a data resource to better understand and monitor the impacts of tourism interactions on whale sharks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The West Australian Department of Parks and Wildlife (Parks and Wildlife) undertakes and facilitates marine research that informs the management of marine parks and reserves created under the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act). Broad marine research priorities for management include understanding patterns in the distribution of marine assets and the processes that shape these patterns, improving the design and function of marine reserves, and understanding the ecology of threatened and specially protected marine fauna. More specific and targeted research priorities are required for efficient and effective use of resources. Research relating to the ecological assets listed in each indicative or final marine reserve management plan was prioritised using a framework that considered the ecological and social value of assets, the anthropogenic pressures acting on assets and the current state of knowledge relating to assets. Invertebrates, macroalgae/seagrasses, soft sediment habitat, and intertidal and filter-feeding communities were identified as fundamental research priorities in several marine reserves, whilst the effects of climate change on turtles, coral reef, seagrass, macroalgal and mangrove communities and the effects of fishing on finfish and invertebrate communities were identified as priorities for applied research. A list of >100 marine asset and park specific research strategies is presented, which in combination with fundamental and applied asset priorities identifies focal areas of Parks and Wildlife marine research, promoting efficient use of resources and facilitating collaboration with other research organisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined whale shark behaviour using fixed-wing aerial surveys in Ningaloo Marine Park between 2007 and 2009. The aims of the project were to develop and trial a method to test for impacts of tourism vessels and swimmers on whale shark behaviour. Whale sharks made significantly more directional changes when vessels were present, with approximately twice as many changes in direction observed per scan when a vessel was present. Whale sharks also maintained neutral behaviours, such as surface swimming, swimming at depth, resurfacing, or no reaction during interactions and, notably, more of these were recorded when a vessel was present. This suggests that, while behaviours were maintained regardless of the presence of vessels, whale sharks may have still responded to vessels by changing direction more frequently. The aerial observations were effective in detecting an increase in directional changes but further behavioural studies are required to improve our understanding of natural diving and surfacing behaviour in whale sharks. Alternative research platforms and technologies may be necessary to investigate whale shark behaviour in more detail and to further evaluate potential impacts of tourism interactions on whale sharks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]