Marine group wants Sammy the Shark tagged and released

Dubai: The Emirates Marine Environmental Group has urged the release of Sammy the whale shark captured and held by Atlantis-The Palm since August 27.

It has voiced its concern over the status of the captive fish, and hopes that Atlantis will tag and release it into its natural habitat as soon as possible.

Although the number of this species in the Gulf is unknown, according to the Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), it is listed as "vulnerable" worldwide.

Sightings of these animals have declined in recent years, the Group said in a statement.

"As a highly migratory species, it is crucial for all countries within the whale shark range to cooperate and create partnerships in order to protect these animals and gain a better understanding of their movements and behaviour," it added.

Ali Saqar Al Suwaidi, President of the Group, said, "It is essential this gentle giant be tagged and released as soon as possible to increase its chances of survival as well as gather scientific data on its movements in the Gulf".

"Nobody knows the reason why this species enters the Gulf waters. It could be a feeding, breeding or nursery grounds for them or just a migration route for these animals. Releasing this whale shark with a satellite tag would be the first step in providing the scientific community with some much needed data on the movement patterns of this species in the Gulf and international waters."