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Trap-Net Fishing / Death of whale shark

The Whale Shark, is the common name for the largest known fish, native to tropical seas around the world. The whale shark may attain a length of more than 15 m (more than 50 ft) and weigh more than 18 metric tons. Deep blue above and white below, it is darker in color than most sharks, but its body is marked with white spots and vertical lines; on its head and back are several broad, longitudinal ridges. The animal has a wide, flattened snout with the mouth at the front, not below, and its jaws hold numerous small teeth. The gill openings are exceptionally large. The whale shark feeds on small fishes and plankton strained out of the seawater by its long gill rakers; it is harmless to humans. Young whale sharks hatch from fertilized eggs inside the body of the female and are then born alive to the outside.

Scientific classification: The whale shark makes up the family Rhincodontidae of the order Lamniformes. It is classified as Rhincodon typus.

On April 3, 1997, two tourists accidentally witness the slaughter of a WHALE SHARK while on way with local boatman to snorkel in Lembeh Strait. The two eventually free a large Turtle also caught in the nets. All events were videotaped and photographed.

The Whale Shark was hoisted onto the side of the boat.

A fisherman then enters the net to kill the Whale Shark

He slashes at the Whale Shark
to kill it. A terrified large Sea Turtle trapped in the bloodied nets gasping for air was later rescued by environmentalists Mike and Robin.

The Whale Shark is killed. A Harmless Fish, we call for support to place it under the category of Highly Endangered Species, not 'Data Deficient' as currently categorized under CITIES.

Preparations are made to haul pieces of the Whale shark on board. Meanwhile activists enter the bloodied nets to free a Sea Turtle and film the entire one hour slaughter.

A fisherman stands in the Tiger nets astonished by the Whale Shark Head

Besides the Whale Shark, hundreds the Pelagic fish are caught daily, all and any sizes moving along the Lembay Straits. Total populations of juvenile fish were taken

The blubbery internal tract of the Whale Shark, typical of plankton feeders

A Green Turtle trapped in nets, rescued and freed by Activists, now members of Earth Advocates