National award to efforts in Gujarat that saved 405 Whale Sharks

Junagadh, 28 May, 2014

Forest department of Junagadh district in Gujarat has received an award under Co-management category from Government of India’s Ministry of Enviornment and Forest(MoEF) and United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) for rescue of 405 Whale Sharks.

Co-management category of award was about the programmes that are executed in cooperation of people.

There was a time when about 2,000 fishermen were active in killing of Whale Shark for their livelyhood. In year 2004 the Forest department and Ram kathakar sant Morari Bapu jointly launched a drive to save Whale Sharks. A replica of Whale Shark was taken to entire coastal belt and street plays were performed widely to bring awareness.

The awareness drive yielded results. Post-catch operations related to Whale Shark are matter of past. Whenever fishermen find Whale Shark in their net, they call forest department and with their help cut the net to make Whale Shark free. Fishermen suffer loss due to this due to damage to their net. In some cases they are reimbursed. The forest department has so far reimbursed Rs. 61 lakh for this purpose to fishermen.

In recent years, as many as 405 Whale Sharks are rescued and released thanks to joint efforts of Gujarat Forest Department, Wild Life Trust of India, Tata Chemicals and alert fishermen.