Ministry of Environment Grants First Permit for Whale Shark Tours

Image: QNA

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change granted the first permit for Qatar Tourism to visit schools of whale sharks in the northeastern waters of the country.

This is part of the ongoing coordination between the official entities to support the environmental tourism, without causing any harm, the Ministry said in a statement.

The permit includes a number of general conditions regarding preserving the marine environment and abiding by the related laws and regulations, in addition to avoid causing any harm to the schools of whale sharks while maintaining the safety and security of the visitors and avoid focusing spotlights on them directly and following them.

This initiative is part of the efforts of the Ministry to spread awareness on related issues and the efforts of the country to maintain biodiversity and protect the endangered species, a statement added.

The efforts of the Ministry to protect whale sharks began in 2011, when the ministry started a study on whale shark populations, and during the years of study, more than 420 whale sharks were identified.

Tracking devices were installed on a group of whales, and samples of fish eggs were analyzed and their genetic fingerprint was studied.

Several aerial surveys of whale shark populations were also conducted during the aforementioned study, and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change is the only agency authorized to issue such permits in coordination with the concerned authorities in the country.

Source: QNA