Tagging A Whale Shark Thanks To Crowdfunding
8 years ago 
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NAUSICAA, the French National Sea Centre in Boulogne-sur-Mer, and the MEGAPTERA association have recently set up crowd funding for the tagging of the world’s largest fish – a whale shark. By making a €5 donation via the Ulule crowd funding platform, you can contribute to research into this iconic animal (lifestyle, migration and breeding). In fact, the funding will be used to take a detailed look at the species.
Once placed on a whale shark, the tag will collect a range of data e.g. depth, temperature, luminosity and humidity (to pinpoint the moments when the shark surfaces). During the project, the data will be decoded and analysed by scientists to monitor the animal’s behaviour patterns and movements.
Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are the world’s largest fish but they are also among the least well-known. This giant of the seas is not a threat to Man. It feeds mainly on plankton, algae and microscopic animals absorbed though its huge mouth. By linking up with NAUSICAA, the MEGAPTERA association hopes to learn more about the whale shark’s lifestyle, migration and breeding, and this will also help in the preservation of the species.
Crowd funding
Crowd funding is a funding technique that offers private individuals a chance to invest in a joint project. Through a web platform like Ulule, people can help to fund an action, donating as much or as little as they like, until the amount required for the action is reached.
To make a contribution to the tagging project, check out the dedicated webpage: https://fr.ulule.com/balise-requin/ or log onto NAUSICAA’s website: www.nausicaa.fr.
Every contribution is tax-deductible. Or you can choose to receive a gift in return, with the gift varying depending on the amount donated e.g. a shark’s tooth, a visit to the exhibition or a chance to see behind the scenes at NAUSICAA.
Visitors to NAUSICAA can also make a contribution to the project by purchasing shark’s teeth at the shop. Shark’s teeth grow all the time. As soon as one falls out, another immediately grows in its place. At NAUSICAA, the shark handlers regularly pick up teeth during their dives.
In line with the position it has held for almost 25 years, NAUSICAA regularly draws visitors’ attention to the importance of sharks in the Ocean and, over the past few days, visitors to NAUSICAA have been able to see an exhibition of photos of whale sharks by Alexis Rosenfeld. Displayed in the centre of NAUSICAA to mark Shark Week, his series of magnificent images gives an insight into this impressively huge animal. The photo exhibition will continue at NAUSICAA until 3 January 2016.
MEGAPTERA
MEGAPTERA is a French association dedicated to the observation, study and protection of marine mammals and whale sharks. To help monitor and gain specific information on these animals, the MEGAPTERA project was formed to undertake in depth studies, specifically relating to the diverse behaviour patterns of whale sharks in the Indian Ocean. The association’s watchwords are: research, education and sustainable conservation. To find out more about whale sharks and protect them more effectively, the MEGAPTERA association regularly conducts photo-identification, marking and tagging of these giants of the seas.
For further information, contact Ingrid Picquart, Communication & Press Officer
NAUSICAA, Centre National de la Mer - BOULOGNE-SUR-MER
Tel.: +33 (0) 321 309 999– Email: [email protected]
