CHENNAI: The sea off Panaiyur fishing village along ECR played host to whale sharks – the biggest fish species – on Thursday. This is the fourth time this year that these sharks have been sighted along the Chennai coast.
“A 15-18 feet long juvenile whale shark was seen preying on small fish off the shore,” said Supraja Dharini, chairperson of the Tree Foundation.
She added that her team sighted more, twice along the 8km stretch in less than a week. Twenty whale sharks were spotted off the shores of Neelankarai beach on June 9 and 10 .
Dr Joe K Kizhakudan, principal scientist at the Madras Regional station of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute said, since 2012, whale shark sightings have increased off ECR. Many of the sharks usually spotted along the country’s west coast, are returning as families.
Kizhakudan said that most of these sightings have been along the artificial reefs created along the TN coast. Of the 131 such reefs, these sharks were spotted at 30. “The locations include Kalapakkam, Pondicherry, Kovalam and they may move towards Besant Nagar,” he said.
Supraja said her team plans to analyze the behaviour of these sharks with recorded data, adding that sharks should be protected as they are crucial to the ecosystem.
Reducing fishing pressure and pollution, protecting their habitat, and educating people about their importance is a good place to start, she said.
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