Whale Shark Research

The world’s largest fish, the whale shark, is currently listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Animals. In an attempt to develop a risk assessment for this species to aid in conservation efforts, researchers from The University of Southern Mississippi-Center for Fisheries Research and Development, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and Blue World Research Institute (BWRI) are collaborating on a two-year study. During this study, whale sharks in the Gulf of Mexico will be tagged to gather telemetry and behavioral information to increase knowledge about the species and to help inform BOEM’s decision making for offshore energy development.

In 2023, we have tagged 10 whale sharks. Many thanks to the Okaloosa Coastal Resource Team for their collaboration in this effort.

Have you recently seen a whale shark?

Report whale shark sighting here

Whale Sharks Tagged in 2023

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The University of Southern Mississippi-Center for Fisheries Research and Development has been studying whale sharks in the Gulf of Mexico for the last two decades.

• Hoffmayer, E.R., McKinney, J.A., Franks, J.S., Hendon, J.M. Driggers III, W.B., Falterman, B., Galuardi, B., and Byrne, M. 2020. Seasonal occurrence, horizontal movements, and habitat use patterns of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) in the Gulf of Mexico. Frontiers in Marine Science. 7:598515. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09777
• Rooker, J., M. Dance, R.J.D. Wells, M. Ajemian, B. Block, M. Castleton, J.M. Drymon, B. Falterman, J. Franks, N. Hammerschlag, J. Hendon, E. Hoffmayer, R. Kraus, J. McKinney, D. Secor, G. Stunz, and J. Walter. 2019. Population connectivity of pelagic megafauna in the Cuba-Mexico-United States triangle. Scientific Reports. 9: 1663. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-38144-8
• McKinney, J.A., Hoffmayer, E.R., Franks, J.S., Hendon, J.M., Driggers III, W.B. 2013. Seasonal habitat use of whale sharks in the northern Gulf of Mexico, USA 2003 - 2013. PeerJ PrePrints 1:e93v1 http://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.93v1
• Hoffmayer, E.R., McKinney, J.A., Franks, J.S., Hendon, J.M., Driggers III, W.B. 2013. Whale Shark Aggregations in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. PeerJ PrePrints 1:e85v1. http://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.85v1
• McKinney, J.A., Hoffmayer, E.R., Wu, W., Fulford, R., and Hendon, J.M.  2012.  Feeding habitat of the whale shark, Rhincodon typus, in the northern Gulf of Mexico determined using species distribution modeling.  Marine Ecological Progress Series 458: 199-211. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09777