The Launching of Book on “Whale Shark Conservation in Botubarani Waters, Gorontalo” by Faculty Member of Bogor Agricultural University

Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest non-cetacean animal in the world, it is fully protected through the Decree of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia number 18 of 2013. The whale shark inhabits all tropical and warm-temperate seas, including Indonesia. The fish is primarily pelagic, living in the open sea but not in the greater depths of the ocean, although it is known to occasionally dive to depths of as much as 1,800 metres. The annual widespread occurrence of such species are in the waters of Cenderawasih Bay (Papua), Talisayan (East Kalimantan), Probolinggo (East Java) and Botubarani (Gorontalo).

The waters of Botubarani, Kabila Bone Sub-district, Bone Bolango District, Gorontalo Province, is one of the areas where whale sharks can be found traveling throughout the water almost every day. Laboratory of Biodiversity and Biosystematics Department of Marine Science and Technology (ITK) of the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences of Bogor Agricultural University (FPIK IPB), in cooperation with Central Coastal and Marine Resources Management Agency (BPSPL), Makassar, the  Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries RI, WWF Indonesia, and Whaleshark Indonesia WS-ID) have conducted research on this area.

The results of study on various aspects of whale shark such on its biology, social, ecotourism and management and conservation strategies were compiled into the 119-page book. "The Whale Shark of Botubarani, Gorontalo". The publication of the book was initiated by the Makassar BPSPL, and was funded by COREMAP-CTI. Authors of the book are Dr. Hawis Madduppa, Beginer Subhan, Mahardika Rizky Himawan. It is expected that the book on tourism business and whale shark conservation of Botubarani Waters will become the guide book for sustainable management of whale shark in Indonesia.

This book is also part of a wider study program conducted by IPB, WWF and WS-ID on Whale Sharks in Indonesia. Several scientific publications in the national and international journals and books on whale sharks in other areas such as Cenderawasih Bay and Talisayan have also been published. (Wied)