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Latest News

New pattern matching power added!

The ECOCEAN Library is now fully integrated with the IVEC cluster, giving the whale shark research community a new, on-demand source of computing power for matching spot patterns across the global data set. IVEC processing nodes are automatically requested when a new scan is submitted.

A new look at Ningaloo whale sharks

ECOCEAN looks at abundance, length, and residency time for whale sharks at Ningaloo Marine Park in Western Australia. The results are published in Endangered Species Research.

Photographing

Area to photograph

Two matches

Awards

Data Sharing

Data sharing with the census of marine life

Report An Encounter NOW!

Report a whale shark encounter! - photograph courtesy of Wags & Kelly

Introducing the ECOCEAN Whale Shark Photo-identification Library

The ECOCEAN Whale Shark Photo-identification Library is a visual database of whale shark (Rhincodon typus) encounters and of individually catalogued whale sharks. The library is maintained and used by marine biologists to collect and analyse whale shark encounter data to learn more about these amazing creatures.

The Library uses photographs of the skin patterning behind the gills of each shark and any scars to distinguish between individual animals. Cutting-edge software supports rapid identification using pattern recognition and photo management tools.

You too can assist with whale shark research - by submitting photos and sighting information. The information you submit will be used in mark-recapture studies to help with the global conservation of this threatened species.

28000+ photos collected
11000+ whale shark reports
2300+ data contributors
2300+ whale sharks collaboratively tagged
365 research days/year

Please consider adopting a shark to support our mission!

Growing Success

Video

Dinosaurs, the Hubble Space Telescope, and whale sharks. What do these three elements have in common? Click a link below to watch ABC's Catalyst video to find out more about the technology used in the ECOCEAN Library!

Windows Media RealPlayer Transcript

Click here for additional whale shark videos.

Data Contributors

Many individuals and organizations actively contribute and manage data in the ECOCEAN Library. We will be featuring them here soon.

Contact us

ECOCEAN USA is always hoping for opportunities to better tell the story of whale sharks and the growing body of research and discoveries made possible by dedicated scientists, volunteers, and the general public.

Please contact us with you questions.

Kings Ningaloo Reef Tours Exmouth

Adopted shark: A-567

Why are shark research and conservation important?

"We at Kings Ningaloo Reef Tours are strong supporters of any type of whale shark research. From a tourism operator's perspective the more we can take care of this natural wonder the better it is for our customers and therefore for us. The public needs to be educated in regards to the preservation of this magnificent creature. Without whale shark research it is almost impossible to understand their migratory and breeding patterns. I believe the companies here on the Ningaloo Reef and the whale shark researchers are leaders in protection and conservation of this majestic fish. The whale shark researchers should be supported so they can educate the rest of the world on how to preserve this mysterious creature. The Ningaloo Reef is one of the last unspoiled fringing reef natural wonders and should be protected at all costs for future generations."

Your adoption gift to ECOCEAN USA is tax deductible in the United States. Click here to learn more.