The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) announced that it will organize the Qatar whale shark conservation forum 2023, in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on May 22, at the Aquatic Fisheries Research Center in Ras Matakh.
The Forum is the first of its kind in the Middle East region concerned with the whale shark, bringing together a number of experts, specialists, and researchers in the field of marine environment, marine biology, and whale sharks, from Qatar and beyond.
Director of the Wildlife Development Department at MoECC, Chairman of the forum's organizing committee Mohamed Ahmed Al Khanji stated that discussions will tackle the threats facing whale sharks in the Gulf region, such as the practice of by-catching and habitat destruction, as well as discuss the life cycle of whale sharks, as to provide more recommendations shared with UNESCO and regional countries in order to protect this species and marine environment in general.
Al Khanji noted that whale sharks gather in Qatari territorial waters in very large numbers and continues for long periods extending from April to October annually during its migration, which prompted MoECC to study wale sharks and their behavior, count their numbers, record their genetic imprint and identify their dietary routines. He also pointed out that whale sharks are not invasive or predatory creatures and does not in any way affect the fish wealth of the region.
For his part, MoECC Public Relations Director Farhoud Hadi Al Hajri said that the Qatar whale shark conservation forum 2023 is sponsored by Qatar Airways and the Seashore Group.
Source: Qatar News Agency