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2004 Results During the 2004 season we counted on the support of other groups and
institutions for several activities. Activity In coordination with Boat revisions Monitoring Federal
Environmental Protection
Agency PROFEPA Geographic location of sharks Tourist Service providers
Reviewed trips 985 Revisions started 1-july-2004 Revisions ended 10-september-2004
Graph 1 Distribution of trips throughout the season During the
2004 season, the CONANP
team and the tourist service providers worked to evaluate some of the
population’s characteristics, like size and sex. Combining the
information obtained by both efforts the following information was
found:
Graph 2
Distribution of sizes
During the
2004 season tagging and recapture efforts were made by the CONANP team.
Of the
individuals tagged and characterized by the team, a ratio of 1.8 males
per female was found.
Graph 3 Sex
distribution Throughout
the season, more than 6,000 tourists from several countries visited the
whale shark population. Graph 4 %
of tourists per country Adding to
the effort made by the CONANP and tourist service providers, more than
1,100 sightings took place, most of them with a recorded geographic
location. With this information the following map was made.
Map of the sighting area during the 2004 season Comparison with 2003 During
the 2003 season similar efforts were made, but to less extent than in
2004.
*
“Total sightings” refers to the number of occasions in which a whale
sharks was seen. This is not equivalent to the total number of whale
sharks in the area, since a single shark may have been seen more than
once. Comparing the seasons, it is interesting to
emphasize that the male to female ratio found remained the same. When
increasing the effort, more individuals were sighted, widening the size
rage. Following with the tendency to increase efforts
each season, little by little there while be more information available
on this whale shark population, allowing improvements on its management. 52 boats obtained the necessary permits from the
General Wild Life of Direction and the CONANP in order to carry out
non-extractive activities during the 2004 season. Working with the tourist
service providers, 72 guides were certified in the following areas:
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