PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Nearly 80% of whale sharks in this marine tourism hotspot have human-caused scars

Human-caused injuries are common in endangered whale sharks off Indonesian Papua, but simple changes to local fishing practices could help protect them

2025-08-28
(Press-News.org) Whale sharks, the largest living fish species, are classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Over the past 75 years, populations have declined by more than 50% worldwide, and by up to 63% in the Indo-Pacific region. Because whale sharks take up to 30 years to become sexually mature, populations can only recover slowly from threats like hunting for fins, meat, and oil, habitat loss, and entanglement in fishing nets.

Now, an international group of researchers has shown that in the Bird’s Head Seascape off Indonesian West Papua, 62% of whale sharks have scars and injuries from preventable human causes. They argue that simple interventions could greatly lessen this burden on the local population of these gentle giants.

“We found that scars and injuries were mainly from anthropogenic causes, such as collisions with ‘bagans’ – traditional fishing platforms with lift nets – and whale shark-watching tour boats,” said Dr Edy Setyawan, the lead conservation scientist at the Elasmobranch Institute Indonesia, and the study’s corresponding author.

“Relatively harmless minor abrasions were the most common. Serious injuries from natural causes such as predator attacks, or from boat propellers were much less common."

Whale shark spotting

Between 2010 and 2023, Setyawan and colleagues studied presence by whale sharks to Cenderawasih Bay, Kaimana, Raja Ampat, and Fakfak within the Bird’s Head Seascape, a region hosting a network of 26 marine protected areas and a hotspot for marine megafauna and tropical marine biodiversity. Each whale shark sports its own unique pattern of white spots and stripes, which enabled the scientists to use photos by researchers and citizen scientists to identify each one individually. Setyawan et al. also recorded the date and time of each sighting, its GPS coordinates, the shark’s sex and maturity status, size, behavior, and any visible injuries.

Over this period, they observed a total of 268 unique whale sharks, of which 98% were sighted in Cenderawasih Bay and Kaimana. Whale shark sightings were almost exclusively seen near bagans, where they typically fed on baitfish like anchovies, herrings, and sprats – either swimming horizontally or in a vertical heads-up position. They were also observed to suck fish directly from bagans, which often damaged the nets. Most sighted individuals were juveniles between four and five meters long, while 90% were males.

52.6% of whale sharks were resighted at least once, up to 11 years apart. The record holder was a young male which was recorded 34 times over three years.

Of the 206 sharks recorded with injuries or scarring, 80.6% exhibited injuries that were attributed to human-made causes, while 58.3% had injuries that were likely from natural causes (note: some individuals had both anthropogenic and natural injuries). Serious lacerations, amputations, and evidence of blunt trauma from anthropogenic causes were relatively rare, observed in 17.7% of individuals. However, non-life-threatening abrasions were common and frequently due to whale sharks rubbing against bagans or boats.

Other fish in the sea

But where did the females, and older, sexually mature individuals hang out? The researchers have a good inkling.

“Previous studies from around the world have shown that adult whale sharks, especially females, prefer the deep ocean where they feed on prey like krill and schooling fish, while the younger males stay closer to shore in shallow, plankton-rich waters that help them grow quickly,” said co-author Mochamad Iqbal Herwata Putra, a senior manager at the Focal Species Conservation Program of the national foundation Konservasi Indonesia.

“Our own satellite tracking data also show that females and adults frequently use deep sea features such as canyons and seamounts.”

“Whale sharks in Cenderawasih Bay and Triton Bay (Kaimana) had high rates of residency and resighting, indicating that they should be viewed as valuable tourism assets for local communities and governments,” said Dr Mark Erdmann, the study’s last author and Shark Conservation Director for Re:wild.

Since the majority of the whale shark sightings took place at bagans, at a time when whale shark tourism is growing, the researchers expect the risk of injuries from bagans and boats to increase in the future – unless simple steps are taken to protect the whale sharks better.

“We aim to work with the management authorities of the marine protected areas to develop regulations to require slight modifications to the bagans, including the removal of any sharp edges from boat outriggers and net frames. We believe those changes will greatly reduce scarring of whale sharks in the region," said Erdmann.

END


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Spider uses trapped fireflies as glowing bait to attract more prey

2025-08-28
Ecologists have observed a species of nocturnal spider attracting prey to its web using the bioluminescent beacons of already trapped fireflies. This rare example of a predator exploiting its prey’s mating signal for its own gain is documented in the British Ecological Society’s Journal of Animal Ecology. Researchers at Tunghai University, Taiwan have observed sheet web spiders Psechrus clavis capturing fireflies in their webs and leaving them there while they emitted bioluminescent light for up to an hour. The researchers even observed the spiders going to check on the captured fireflies from time to time. Intrigued ...

How AI can build bridges between nations, if diplomats use it wisely

2025-08-28
Dr Donald Kilburg, who was a member of the US Department of State, says the technology is already shaping work for the likes of embassy officials whose jobs are to protect their country’s interests abroad. But the US army veteran and retired professor warns that algorithms cannot ‘read the room’, and can’t replicate the ‘empathy, intuition and deep cultural understanding’ of human diplomats. He says: “AI can streamline diplomacy, but only humans bring the empathy and intuition that make negotiations ...

80% of Americans don’t know early-stage prostate cancer often has no symptoms

2025-08-28
A recent survey commissioned by The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) focused on Americans’ awareness of the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer. The survey results show most people (80%) don’t know early-stage prostate cancer often presents with no physical symptoms, typically only diagnosed with a blood test. Prostate cancer affects more than 300,000 adults in the United States ...

Researchers engineer ureter tissue from stem cells, paving way for transplantable kidneys

2025-08-28
Scientists at Kumamoto University have made a major breakthrough in regenerative medicine by successfully creating functional ureter tissue—organoids resembling the urinary tract—from pluripotent stem cells. The achievement brings researchers one step closer to developing transplantable kidneys capable of producing and expelling urine. The ureter, a critical tube that carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder, has long been missing from lab-grown kidney models. Without it, kidney ...

Strong, evidence-based leadership at CDC essential in wake of director’s exit, says SHEA

2025-08-28
SHEA is deeply disappointed by the sudden departure of the CDC Director so soon after her confirmation, at a time when the agency most needs stability and authority to carry out its vital mission of protecting the health and safety of all Americans. The United States stands at a critical crossroads, where strong, trusted public health leadership is essential to restoring confidence through evidence-based practices and guidance. In an era marked by increasing assaults on science and public health, CDC must be empowered to rise above politics and remain focused on their core purpose: safeguarding ...

Birdwatching tourism is booming. Some countries are benefiting, while others are left behind

2025-08-28
Deep in a forest in the Andes, high atop a tall tree, there’s a quick, colorful flash of plumage in vivid shades of yellow, green, and blue. A high-pitched musical chirp rings out. Through a carefully trained pair of binoculars, a beautiful little bird comes into view. It’s a multicolored tanager, a species that lives only in the mountains of Colombia. Seeing it in person for the first time feels like the thrill of discovery. Watching it search for fruit across the treetops brings a sense of peace and connection to nature.  Experiences like these are what motivate birdwatchers to travel the globe, in hopes ...

High protein or Trp diet increases the risk of cancer-associated venous thromboembolism

2025-08-27
Contact: Gina DiGravio, 617-358-7838, ginad@bu.edu (Boston)—Next to cancer recurrence or progression, cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of death in cancer survivors. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database revealed that among the more than three million who initially survived cancer between 1973 and 2012, 38% eventually succumbed to the disease while 11.3% died from cardiovascular diseases.  Specifically, cancer survivors are at a four to seven-fold higher risk of venous thromboembolism ...

Risk of a second cancer after early breast cancer is low

2025-08-27
For women diagnosed with early breast cancer, the long-term risk of developing a second primary cancer is low (around 2-3% greater than women in the general population), finds a study published by The BMJ today. The researchers say this information can help reassure many breast cancer survivors who believe their risk of a second primary cancer is much higher than these results suggest. Breast cancer survivors are at increased risk of developing second primary cancers, but risk estimates from previous studies are inconsistent. ...

Genetic key to why immune responses differ between men and women

2025-08-27
A new study has uncovered a key difference between the immune system of males and females - and it comes down to a single gene. It is known that biological sex affects the function of the immune system, with women often being more severely affected by autoimmune conditions or allergic diseases. Scientists from the University of York have now identified the gene Malat1 as a critical player in regulating immune responses in female immune cells, but not in males.  The team studied T cells, a pillar of our immune system, in the lab and animal models of inflammation. ...

Discovery could lead to new treatments for life-threatening allergic reactions

2025-08-27
Food allergies affect more than half a billion people worldwide. In severe cases, even a small bite of the wrong food can trigger anaphylaxis — a rapid, body-wide allergic reaction that can cause difficulty breathing, a dangerous drop in blood pressure and even death. Scientists have long understood how injected allergens — like those in lab tests or insect stings — trigger anaphylaxis. But researchers have puzzled over how anaphylaxis begins in the gut after eating a food allergen. Now, Arizona State University researchers, in collaboration with a team ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Artificial tongue uses milk to determine heat level in spicy foods

IU Kelley Futurecast: AI and energy infrastructure may buoy US economy in 2026

The biggest threats to maintaining fat bike trails: climate change and volunteer burnout

AI models for drug design fail in physics

Practice pattern of aerosol drug therapy in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients: An aero-in-ICU study

GLIS model as a predictor of outcomes in older adults with heart failure

Molecules in motion: pioneering the era of supramolecular robotics

Faster and more reliable crystal structure prediction of organic molecules

Thankful at work: A two-week gratitude journal boosts employee engagement

Fibroblasts: Hidden drivers of heart failure progression

IOCB Prague unveils a fundamentally faster, more affordable way to produce quantum nanodiamonds

Artificial intelligence takes the lead in revolutionizing cancer research explored at NFCR’s 2025 Global Summit and Award Ceremonies for Cancer Research and Entrepreneurship.

Switching memories on and off with epigenetics

This is your brain without sleep

3D DNA looping discovery in rice paves the way for higher yields with less fertilizer

Four subgroups of PCOS open up for individualized treatment

Perovskites reveal ultrafast quantum light in new study

New clues on how physical forces spread in neurons

Heart ‘blueprint’ reveals origins of defects and insights into fetal development

Some acute and chronic viral infections may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease

Flavanols in cocoa can protect blood vessel function following uninterrupted sitting - study

$100 Million gift will advance UCSF’s dementia research and care

The 4th Japan-India Universities Forum on 15 November

Arctic town Kiruna is colder after the move

Mayo Clinic study finds majority of midlife women with menopause symptoms do not seek care

Underwater robot ‘Lassie’ discovers remarkable icefish nests during search for Shackleton’s lost ship off Antarctica

Wearable robots you can wear like clothes: automatic weaving of “fabric muscle” brings commercialization closer

Researcher improves century-old equation to predict movement of dangerous air pollutants.

Heatwaves linked to rise in sleep apnoea cases in Europe

Down‑top strategy engineered large‑scale fluorographene/PBO nanofibers composite papers with excellent wave‑transparent performance and thermal conductivity

[Press-News.org] Nearly 80% of whale sharks in this marine tourism hotspot have human-caused scars
Human-caused injuries are common in endangered whale sharks off Indonesian Papua, but simple changes to local fishing practices could help protect them