Episode 602: Biggest Fish in the Sea

Each summer, the world’s largest known aggregation of whale sharks occurs just off the coast of Cancun, Mexico. Hundreds of these gentle giants come to the area to feed on plankton, giving experts the opportunity to learn more about the largest fish in the sea. Despite their enormous size, still relatively little is known about the animals. Scientists from the Georgia Aquarium, together with their partners from Blue Realm, tag the animals to learn more about their movements. The experts also want to protect the animals from ship strikes while they are feeding at the ocean surface, so they have installed a special device that can monitor ship traffic in the area. They plan to correlate that information with data they have collected on the whereabouts of the animals, to make recommendations for safer shipping lanes in the future.

Experts

Meet the experts featured in this episode.

Episode Photos

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Cameraman Allan Farrell films the whale sharks and tourists at the Mexican aggregation site.

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Swimming with whale sharks has become a very popular tourist attraction, causing some to worry about the safety of the animals.

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A whale shark filter-feeds at the surface.

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A whale shark swims among the tourists.

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Whale sharks feed on plankton.

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While at the aggregation site near Isla Mujeres, whale sharks dine on fish eggs, like the ones pictured on this finger.

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Whale sharks are the biggest fish in the sea.

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Rules are in place to protect the animals while tourists interact with them.

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It is an amazing sight to have a whale shark approach from the depths below.

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Scientists from the Georgia Aquarium and Blue Realm study the whale sharks at the aggregation site in Mexico.

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Some of the whale sharks are outfitted with satellite tags by the scientists. The tags provide information on the animals’ movements.

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Whale sharks have the thickest skin in the animal kingdom.

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In addition to studying the animals in the water, the scientists also count them from the air.

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Cancun, Mexico, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean, with miles of hotels and attractions.

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Experts count the whale sharks at the aggregation from the air.

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Dozens of whale sharks feeding at the surface among the tourist boats.

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When that many boats and animals interact in one area, boat strikes are sadly unavoidable.

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Isla Contoy, near the aggregation site.

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Crewmembers Sean Hickey (left) and Allan Farrell ready to set up camera gear on the beach on Isla Contoy.

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Scientists installed a receiver on top of this tower on Isla Contoy to track ship traffic. They want to avoid the collision of whale sharks with big cargo ships passing through.

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A whale shark in the Ocean Voyagers exhibit at the Georgia Aquarium.

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Cameraman Sean Hickey prepping to film inside the Ocean Voyagers exhibit at the Georgia Aquarium.

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Producer Alexa Elliott prepping to shoot pictures inside the Ocean Voyagers exhibit at the Georgia Aquarium.

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Cameraman Sean Hickey and Producer Alexa Elliott filming inside the Ocean Voyagers exhibit at the Georgia Aquarium.

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The Georgia Aquarium is home to four whale sharks in its Ocean Voyagers exhibit.

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The Georgia Aquarium is the only facility outside of Asia that has whale sharks on display.

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One of the four whale sharks at the Georgia Aquarium swimming overhead.

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The aquarium staff feeds its whale sharks from little rubber boats on the surface. Each animal is trained to feed from a different colored ladle.

Special Thanks:

Radisson Hacienda Cancun
Avenida Nader 1, SM 2, Centro
77500 Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico
+52 998 881 6500

Southwest Airlines
P.O. Box 36647-1CR
Dallas, Texas 75235
1-800-I-FLY-SWA

Image Credits

Changing Seas would like to thank the following individuals and institutions who kindly allowed their footage, images and other media to be used in this production:

Al Dove

Georgia Aquarium

Michael Mauntler
Fluid Blue Productions

Mote Marine Laboratory

NOAA
taken under NOAA Permit No. 9321489
under the authority of the U.S. Endangered
Species Act & Marine Mammal Protection Act

Rafael de la Parra

Scott Jones

Shoou-Jeng Joung, Ph.D.

Elson Q. Aca
WWF-Philippines

Special Thanks:

Ashley Lansdale
Andrés Ruiz
Emma Alvarez
Fernando Pardo
Fernando Sánchez
Graciela Álvarez
Hayley Rutger
Jamison Smith
Jessica Fontana
Kerry Gladish
Martha Luisa Zapata Calderón
Meghann Gibbons
Paco Remolina

Web Extras

Ocean Voyager Exhibit - Georgia Aquarium

During the filming of our episode "Biggest Fish in the Sea," we had an opportunity to visit the Georgia Aquarium and venture into one of the largest salt water tanks in the world. The Ocean Voyager exhibit tank houses whale sharks, manta rays, sawfish, and many other warm water creatures. It's a 6.3 million gallon tank, with 4,574 sq feet of viewing windows and a 100' viewing tunnel.

Episode 602: Biggest Fish in the Sea

Experts

Alistair Dove, Ph.D.

Rafael de la Parra

Jacob Levenson

Timothy Read, Ph.D.

Tauqeer Alam, Ph.D.

Mauricio Handler

Special Thanks:

Image Credits

Web Extras

Ocean Voyager Exhibit - Georgia Aquarium

Funding for this episode of Changing Seas was provided by: