Qatar is the Second Largest Meeting Place for the non-predator Whale Shark in the world

Doha, June 27 (QNA) - The Environmental expert in the Ministry of Environment Mohammed Al-Jaidah said that the State of Qatar is the world's second largest meeting place for non-predator whale sharks after Mexico. Al-Jaidah said in a press conference today at the ministry that 75 to 80 whale sharks exist in one place in the area of Al Shaheen field, the length of each ranges between 8 and 9 meters, while in Mexico is the world's biggest gathering for this type of fish there are around 400 whale sharks, but smaller in size than those in Qatar. He said that recently 75 whale sharks where skin-photo marked, out of 80 fish found in the last expedition in Al-Shaheen field area. He referred in a relevant context to that studies showed that about 90 percent of the sharks gathering in Mexico and in the world are males, while in Qatar, the ratio is equal between males and females and said that a specialized work team is following the movement of these fish via satellite. Al-Jaidah pointed to an agreement with Al-Jazeera space channel for the production of a documentary, and that Mersk signed a contract with a specialized company to produce a scientific film on these fish. He predicted that the, upon the approval of the concerned authorities, the gathering of sharks in Qatar will become in the future an eco-tourism area. (QNA)