Seasonal hotspots of mega-fauna and vessel activity in south ari marine protected area, Maldives

Abstract

South Ari atoll in the Maldives has a year round aggregation of whale sharks, Rhincodon typus, and other mega-fauna have been sighted there, many of which are Red listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Designated a Marine Protected Area in 2009, it is a popular tourist destination for wildlife viewing, which has led to large numbers of vessels operating within the MPA boundaries (42km2) resulting in many injuries to whale shark from boat collisions. The aim of this study was to identify hotspots where mega-fauna and vessel distributions are most concentrated, whether they overlap, and if these hotspots shift between seasons. This information is needed by managers to develop appropriate regulations for the core areas. The distribution of R. typus, other mega-fauna, vessels and recently injured R. typus was mapped, during both the North East and the South West monsoon seasons using data collected by the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme from November 2011 to April 2017. It was found that concentrations of all mega-fauna, vessels and recently injured R. typus occur in the south of SAMPA during the NE monsoon and appear to shift to the east during the SW monsoon with the south retaining relatively high densities all year round. The concentration of wildlife and vessels in such a small area highlights the importance of wildlife to the local tourism industry but also the threats facing mega-fauna, which need to be regulated. The government is focusing on South Ari to develop the area’s first management plan, thus the outputs of this study will inform managers of the areas of highest priority