In a move to boost whale shark conservation, the Indian environment ministry has given its nod to satellite tag individuals of the species and collect tissue samples for genetic analysis.

The move comes a few days after an Indian delegation journeyed to Australia to observe whale shark satellite tagging as well as tourism concerning the mammal to help kick-start a similar process at home.

“We are in the process of procuring satellite tags and will soon be initiating genetic analysis of individual whale sharks as well, said Dhiresh Joshi, Coordinator, Wildlife Trust of India, in a statement.

The satellite tagging procedure is expected to help ascertain the species’ migratory routes through the vast oceans.

A three-member team comprising of Pradeep Khanna, Gujarat’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, R D Khamboj, Director, Marine National Park, Gujarat and Rahul Kaul, Senior Director, WTI had reviewed various aspects of professionally run-whale shark tours in Australia, the statement added.

Earlier in April 2010, one shark was labeled as I-001 and it was India’s first entry to the global database on whale sharks reported and identified from over 40 countries. The global database is managed by the ECOCEAN.The identification process employed underwater photography and subsequent comparison of the photographs in a global database.Pattern of spots around the pectoral fins and gills region is used to identify individual whale sharks.

The photo-identification exercise is a component of the Whale Shark Conservation Project – a joint venture of the Gujarat Forest Department, the Tata Chemicals Limited and the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI). According to WTI, the projected aimed at studying the population and migration of whale sharks, the photo-identification is being implemented in collaboration with the ECOCEAN.