Freedom closer for Atlantis whale shark

The whale shark at the Atlantis hotel aquarium in Dubai.

DUBAI // Pressure mounted yesterday on the Atlantis Hotel to release back into the wild a "rescued" young whale shark that has been kept for almost 40 days in the hotel's aquarium. After weeks of controversy over the capture of the shark, a member of a species listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as "vulnerable" throughout the world, the Emirates Marine Environmental Group (EMEG) yesterday issued a statement "to pressure Atlantis into tagging and releasing this shark back into its natural habitat as soon as possible".

EMEG was set up in 1996 under the patronage of Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the wife of Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed, minister for presidential affairs. The National has also learnt that the controversy over the whale shark has now reached the highest executive levels of Kerzner International and Nakheel, the joint-venture partners behind the Atlantis resort. A high-ranking official at the Ministry of Environment and Water is also believed to be looking into the matter.

Until yesterday, EMEG, which works on some conservation projects with the developer Nakheel, had remained silent on the matter, although individual members had expressed their concerns privately. Yesterday's statement, however, was unequivocal. "It is essential that this gentle giant be tagged and released as soon as possible to increase its chances of survival as well as gather scientific data on its movements in the Gulf," said Ali al Suweidi, the group's president.

Catches and sighting of whale sharks are declining, said the group's statement, and the life history of whale sharks was still poorly understood. "As a highly migratory species, it is crucial for all countries within the whale shark range to co-operate and create partnerships in order to protect these animals and gain a better understanding of their movements and behaviour." The four-metre shark was caught off Jebel Ali on Aug 27, although the exact circumstances of its capture remain obscure.

In May, Steve Kaiser, vice president of marine sciences and engineering for the resort, said all the fish that would be on show in the aquarium would be caught within 75 miles of Dubai. "Right now we have 60 species and we hope to have well over a 100 before launch," he said. He hoped the new arrivals would include sharks, stingrays and more reef fish. At the beginning of September it emerged that a whale shark had been added to the collection, amid reports it had been "rescued" because it had been showing signs of distress.

From the outset, environmentalists expressed doubts about the reason for the shark's capture and its continuing captivity. Ibrahim al Zu'ubi, environmental adviser to the Emirates Diving Association, said he had been told the animal would be rehabilitated, fitted with a satellite collar and released. However, on Oct 5, Alan Leibman, managing director of the resort, told The National there were no plans to release the animal. "I'm not sure where that statement came from," he said. "We have probably the most talented marine science people in the industry monitoring it and making sure it is well."

There is little doubt that the creature has become a major attraction at the aquarium, which has been selling toy whale sharks in its shop for Dh99 (US$27) each. Labels on the toys state that "Atlantis proudly supports the Kerzner Marine Foundation", which on its website describes itself as "a private, non-profit foundation that fosters the preservation and enhancement of global marine ecosystems through scientific research, education, and community outreach".

However, the foundation is not an entirely independent organisation; it was set up in 2004 by Kerzner International, the hotel group behind the Atlantis, and Mr Leibman is one of five directors on its board. The foundation, which is based in Florida, failed to respond to repeated requests for a statement. Management at the Atlantis in Dubai and at the hotel chain's global communications office in New York were also unavailable for comment.

Scientists believe water temperature, salinity and food trigger the migration of whale sharks. Although in the wild whale sharks are thought to live for decades, it is known that their lifespan in captivity is significantly shorter. A study of 16 kept at the Okinawa Churaumi aquarium in Japan, one of few facilities in the world where the rare animals are exhibited, found it averaged less than two years.

International conservation groups have taken a dim view of the animal's captivity. Ali Hood, director of conservation at the UK-based Shark Trust, said it hoped "that the Atlantis resort acts with the best interest of the animal as its primary concern and that revenue raised during its time in captivity is used to further the knowledge, understanding and conservation of these magnificent and vulnerable creatures".