UAE | General
Whale shark facts
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations says the whale shark is “by far the world's largest fish”.
- Xpress
- Published: 17:25 September 9, 2008
- Image Credit: Supplied picture
- The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation says the Whale shark is under threat in some areas of the globe.
A four-metre whale shark found struggling in Jebel Ali waters has been shipped to large tanks at Atlantis, The Palm. Here are some whale shark facts:
- The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations says the whale shark is “by far the world's largest fish''.
- The FAO describes the Whale shark as a species whose “maximum total length (is) uncertain, possibly to 18 metres, but specimens rare above 12 m; 13.7 metres is often given as the maximum measured, 12.1 metres the most recently accurately measured. Most reported in the literature are between 4 to 12 metres. Females of 438 to 562 cm are immature.''
- The FAO says the Whale shark is under threat in some areas of the globe.
- The IUCN Red List considers the whale shark a Data Deficient species worldwide (Camhi et al. 1998). However, the apparent decreasing catch rates in some of the fisheries outlined above suggest that whale sharks, like most elasmobranchs, are susceptible to overfishing when exploitation runs unchecked.
- Whale sharks are currently protected in several parts of the world: in Australia (Western Australia); The Maldives; The Philippines, and in the USA (Florida state Waters and all federal waters of the Gulf of México and Atlantic coast),'' the FAO states on its website.
For more details, log on to the FAO website at: www.fao.org/fishery/species/2801/en
Related Links
More from UAE General
More from UAE
Latest news
- Tracks to be laid on recycled material
- Golden Hour crucial to a patient's survival
- Opening show worthy of UAE
- Sun is shining on prospects for solar power
- Artists focus on craftsmanship
- World leaders committed to supporting civilians
- Schools open a new page in teaching English
- Special parking to help disabled tourists
- Helping hand surgeons have long sought
- Blind woman lights up corridors of power
- In Mind
- At times, I think of committing suicide
- Designer of a creative haven
- Fund to help Dubai taxi drivers' families
- New life-saving fleet of vehicles
Community Reports
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
-
Supporting the needy with food supplies
Group of families engaged in serving isolated labour community hopes to motivate more people to help underprivileged and hungry
-
Leukaemia boy granted wish to meet footballer
Emirati meets hero Al Qahtani, Al Ain team
