Pertamina-KLHK Records Increase in Whale Shark Population in Central Papua

Author: Dian Kencana
July 4, 2024

A whale shark is seen in the waters of Cenderawasih Bay National Park (TNTC) in Nabire, Central Papua. (ANTARA/HO-HUMAS Pertamina Papua)

SEAToday.com, Nabire - PT Pertamina International Shipping (PIS) and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) collaborated to discover eight new whale sharks in the Cenderawasih Bay National Park (TNTC) area, specifically in Kwatisore, Central Papua. This discovery brings the total number of recorded whale sharks in TNTC to 203.

The successful monitoring effort, which began in November 2023, is a product of the joint efforts between PIS and KLHK at the Whale Shark Center (WSC) Kwatisore. Muhammad Aryomekka Firdaus, PIS Corporate Secretary, described the finding as a special gift for ocean biological sustainability, coinciding perfectly with World Ocean Day on June 8.

Whale shark tagging and monitoring is a cornerstone program within the broader TNTC whale shark conservation efforts. This program is designed to shed light on the breeding patterns, life cycles, and migration routes of these magnificent creatures.

Pertamina took a commendable step towards ensuring the welfare of the sharks by collaborating with US scientists to develop a painless tagging method. This involved replacing the previous fin-piercing tool with a specially designed bracket.