Atlantis will not release captured whale shark

Posted By Sara-Lise Haith on Tuesday Oct 7, 2008 @ 08:48 in Scuba Diving

Print this Page

A national polemic arises as the executives of the Palm Atlantis (Dubai), have announced that they will not release the whale shark that they captured from the waters of the UAE almost a month ago.

Atlantis announced the capture of the juvenile whale shark recently which was found in shallow waters, “fatigued and disorientated”. Whale Sharks are protected by CITES (Convention for the International Trade of Endangered Species) and apparently the hotel was urged to release the animal. Environmentalists have hit out at the management of Atlantis hotel for performing an apparent change of mind by deciding to keep a whale shark caught off Jebel Ali.

On September 9, the luxury resort issued a press release to say its marine experts had rescued a struggling four-metre whale shark. The statement went on to say that the female animal had been taken to the hotel’s 11-million-litre lagoon “for medical care and observation” - with no mention of a permanent capture.

Although it was initially reported that the shark would only be kept until it had recovered from an unspecified medical problem, Mr Leibman said there were no plans to release it. In an article published in the National newspaper on October 4th, he says “I’m not sure where that statement came from,” he said.

He has also told 7 days “We have probably the most talented marine science people in the industry monitoring it and making sure it is well.”

Ibrahim Al-Zu’bi, environmental advisor for Emirates Diving Association, says he has seen the whale shark and believes it should be put back into the Arabian Gulf. “It should be tagged and released, the sooner the better,” he told 7DAYS. “I know Atlantis is under pressure at the moment because they have only just opened, but we’ve been told they would release the whale shark. “They are using it for educational awareness. But they will have to release it because it can grow up to more than ten metres - it’s common sense.” Al-Zu’bi also made reference to the whale shark deaths in the aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia.

In the article released by 7 Days today, written by Paul McLennan, various public comments say that one visitor to Atlantis said: “I think it’s disgusting that they are using this poor creature as a tourist attraction. “It should be released back into the wild where it belongs and as soon as possible.” And Ali Hood, director of conservation at UK-based Shark Trust, added: “We certainly would not support any venture that would use a whale shark merely as a financial attraction.”

Despite calls to Atlantis for an explanation into the future of the whale shark, the hotel was unavailable for comment. Whale sharks are listed as a vulnerable species by The World Conservation Union and are protected by CITES (Convention for the International Trade of Endangered Species), which is an agreement of which the UAE is a signatory.

UAE residents are calling out for the shark’s immediate release.

Photo: Mike Ralph