welcome

[Dennis Beros]

 Hi folks. These discussion boards dont get going unless people take a chance and make postings - so here's my go.



I was at the Perth wahle Shark Conference  in 2005 and undertook to try and get a website going for post-conference dialogue to continue. I have failed dismally at that so far, so I am very pleased to see Ecocean have set up this bulletin board. Well done.



I welcome any discussion about getting a dedicated whale shark conservation website established where we can share info and have a library of resource materials etc. Last I heard there was going to be few dollars left from the conference budget which mught have been used to kick start a site. We'd still need webmaster etc. Discussion? Ideas?  :idea:

[David Rowat]

Hi Denis and all,



Nice to see that this legitimate forum has now gotten underway, thanks Brad for taking on the initiative!



As many of you may know Seychelles has agreed to host the first meeting to enable an international instrument for the conservation on Migratory Shark species under the UN Convention on Migratory Species(currently whale shark, basking shark and white shark).



The first meeting of governmental representatives and interested parties will be in early July at the Plantation Club, South Mahe, Seychelles and the official letters of invitation will be sent out during the coming week.



I look forward to seeing many colleagues from Perth here in Seychelles. As soon as the information documents are released on to the CMS site I will post the link on this forum.



Its time to get to work once again!



Best regards to all



David

[Marie Levine]

Hi All,



I, too, was at the whale shark conference in Perth, and want to add my congratulations to Brad for setting up this discussion group.



Shark Research Institute recently established a field office in Taiwan, headed by Scott Stevens. Much of his research is with NTOU (National Taiwan Ocean University), his Msc dissertation was on the South China Sea and associated fisheries, and he has spent a lot of time with the Taiwanese fishing fleet. Scott reports that the whale shark fisheries in Taiwan have declined significantly; the year catch is 20.



Marie Levine, Shark Research Institute

[Dennis Beros]

Memebers of this BB may like to ad a pic of themselves (or their favorite whale shark). This pic will accompany each of your postings. Go to bottom of 'profile' page.