A whale shark (Rhincodon typus), under a traditional fishing platform (bagan) in Cenderawasih Bay, Papua, Indonesia. This image
A whale shark (Rhincodon typus), under a traditional fishing platform (bagan) in Cenderawasih Bay, Papua, Indonesia. This image documents the relationship that has developed between local fishermen and whale sharks. The whale sharks are attracted to the semi-permanently moored fishing platforms by the nets full of anchovies which hang beneath, after the previous nights fishing. During the course of the day the fishermen discard unsuitable catch and take pleasure in watching the whalesharks feed on the discarded dead fish, even entering the water to swim with them on occassion. They believe the whale sharks bring them luck,
Size: 4256px × 2832px
Photo credit: © Stephen Jones / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: None
Keywords: anchovies:, bagan, bay, behaviour, bony, carpetsharks:, cartilaginous, cenederawasih, chondrichthyes, endangered, engraulidae, feeding, fish, fishermen, fishes, fishes:, ikan, indonesian, level, life, marine, nets, opportunistic, orectolobiformes, osteichthyes, papua, puri, rhincodon, rhincodontidae, shark:, sharks, sharks:, split, stealing, typus, vulnerable, west, whale
