ITS HEAD WAS DOWN, while its tail was up to the air, after being tied up tightly with a rope attached to a big reel on that trawler.

Once in a while, the three-metre-long whale shark jerked, prompting its tail to sway, suggesting that it was still alive.

“See! It’s still alive! It still breathed too,” shouted a woman on a diving boat motoring next to the trawler.

It was last Friday when a group of divers encountered a trawler near Racha Yai island off the Phuket coast.

There, they saw the whale shark dangled as it was tied up and dragged into the air with its tail tied tightly.

According to one of the divers who decided to post the story on Facebook, and which was later circulated widely, the diving-boat captain noticed that the trawler leaned to one side. As he moved the diving boat closer, the scene of the giant whale shark tied to the reel could be seen clearly by all divers on the boat.

They decided to chase the trawler in an attempt to pressure it to release the whale shark.

It took a while before the crew of the trawler untied the whale shark from the reel. It got stuck on one side of the trawler before being pushed out to the water.

The marine experts and veterinarians from the National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation Department, which were assigned to follow up the case, reported to the department that intestines appeared to spurt from the shark’s belly, leading them to conclude that its organs would be severely damaged following its harsh capture and release.

Nobody has seen it since, despite the joint effort to locate it, nor has anyone managed to confirm whether the creature is dead – or alive.

Photos Courtesy of DCMR

Next to extinction

The latest incident bodes poorly for the species as a whole, according to marine experts and ecologists, including Petch Manopawitr, a deputy director and Thailand programme coordinator of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Southeast Asia, and Assistant Professor Thon Thamrongnawasawat, a vice dean of Kasetsart University’s Fisheries Department.

The tragic event reflected the threats to the whale shark’s population at large as the world’s oceans become increasingly hostile waters for vulnerable species.

Whale sharks, here and in international water, have shared a similar fate as they faced threats that are pushing the entire family of sharks to the verge of extinction, with a sharp decline in population observed while their reproduction rate is too low to replenish the stock (see box).

The IUCN two years ago decided to move the species from vulnerable to endangered species on its Red List, implying it faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild. They are officially a big step closer to extinction.

“Whale sharks are large animals, important like elephants,” said Petch. “The creatures are filter feeders, thus playing an important role in an ecosystem by helping control the circulation of nutrients in the food chain. Because of their special sizes and rarity, these animals have become a new tourist attraction, which help contribute to local economies, and that’s the reasons why the creatures are important both ecologically and economically.”

According to the IUCN’s assessment, whale sharks are the world’s largest living fish, and a cosmopolitan tropical and warm temperate species. Their genetic results indicate that two major subpopulations exist, in the Atlantic Ocean and Indo-Pacific, respectively.

The IUCN estimates that 75 per cent of the global population is inferred to occur in the Indo-Pacific, while 25 per cent are in the Atlantic.

The decline of the population in the Pacific is around 40 to 92 per cent, inferring an overall decline of 63 per cent over the last 75 years, or three generations of sharks. That is part of the justification for the IUCN has flagging the species as endangered, given that it is the bulk of its global population.

As of February 2016, there were 7,011 individual sharks placed on the database of whale shark sightings, identified from images of their spot patterns submitted between 1964 and 2016. For Petch, what is more of a worry is the fact that the species is slow-growing, late-maturing, and has low-fecundity, prompting it to replenish its declining stock slowly.

Around 100 whale sharks have been recorded roaming through Thai waters, according to the Department of Coastal and Marine Resources.

Threats

The IUCN Red List assessment found that growing human pressures were contributing to the threats putting whale sharks at an increasing risk of extinction, along with some few other newly assessed animals.

“It is alarming to see such emblematic species slide towards extinction,” said Jane Smart, director of IUCN’s Global Species Programme, in a press release.

The new assessments emphasise how urgent it is for the conservation community to act strategically to protect the diversity of life, she said in the release.

Their numbers have been halved over the last 75 years, according to the assessment, as the giant continued to be both fished and accidentally killed by ship propellers.

Large-scale fishing of whale sharks had been ended by some countries in Asia, including India, the Philippines and Taiwan, the assessment noted. Yet they continued to be fished in other locations, including southern China, where they are often caught along with tuna as the two species are often found together.

In Thailand, they are also often caught as “by-catch” when other species are being targeted, a trend that worries Petch, who wishes to see it stop.

Sustainable fishery

Whale sharks were once widely prevalent in Thai waters and were a tourist attraction, especially for scuba diving, for more than 20 years.

Realising their importance, Thon and his fellows pushed for the setting up of a group called Raksa Whale Sharks to help protect the species.

They also managed to push for their inclusion on a fishery prohibition ban list of the Fisheries Department.

The fish were later listed as a protected species under the wildlife conservation law, according to Thon, a member of the national reform committee on natural resources and environment committee.

Whale sharks, still, have been under threat, often being hit by boats, contaminated by microplastic, or fished inadvertently or by-catching.

Petch said by-catching was still considered a major threat to the species as there have been continued reports over the incidents.

As long as there was demand for their parts, including their fins, they would continue to be taken although fished inadvertently, he said.

“The issue is a reflection on non-selective fishery because the fishing gears used in the activity, particularly trawling nets, are too effective in gathering everything that comes in their way. So, it is necessary for concerned authorities to come up with better regulation of this activity.

“I wish to see the latest whale shark incident as the beginning of what I call sustainable fishery. This is actually in line with the Sustainable Development Goal 14 concerning sustainable use and conservation of marine resources,” said Petch, adding it was possible, given the country is now under pressure over the IUU, or Illegal Unreported and Unregulated Fishing.

“It’s like you have a diamond in your hands, so you should take this opportunity to take care of it,” said Petch.

Thon agrees that by-catching still poses a critical threat to the species.

He pointed out that fishery regulation has been improved and that’s the reason why the trawler was seized following the alert from a satellite-based Port in-Port out reporting.

By-catching, he said, must be punished under the law.

Personally, Thon wished to push for more stringent listing of the animal to ensure they would be better protected.

Thon wants to see them included as a preserved species after the Cabinet endorsed the proposal two years ago.

“It’s another goal that, say, we want to preserve them just like what international community does, like IUCN and CITES,” said Thon.

Courtesy of Sunshine Sketcher FB Page.

BOX: Shark species at risk of vanishing from Thai waters

MARINE SCIENTISTS agree the shark populations here and in international waters are on the verge of extinction.

According to the IUCN, one-fourth of the shark species on record worldwide – nearly 300 of 1,041 species – are threatened with extinction.

These species have been variously classified as vulnerable, endangered, or even critically endangered, including Whale Sharks.

Mediterranean and Thai waters are where the shark population has declined at the highest rate, IUCN noted in its recent report.

The latest research – a collaboration between Thai researcher Sirichai Arunrugstichai of the Prince of Songkla University’s Department of Biology and his fellows – confirmed the trend was happening in Thai waters.

Their work, published in the Fisheries Society of the British Isles’ Journal of Fish Biology in February this year, examines the composition and biological aspects of sharks caught by Thai commercial fisheries in the Andaman Sea.

The researchers looked through the by-catches (those species caught inadvertently) by fishermen at several main ports over a year, and discovered a sharp decline in the shark population.

They also detected shifts in the population composition compared to a previous study in 2004.

They managed to count 2,123 sharks, and recorded only 17 species, compared with 64 species previously reported.

The current study revealed noticeable declines in the landings of slow-growing, late-maturing, and low-fecundity species, including the Bull Shark.

The absence of many species and changes in life-stage composition, they pointed out, suggested that the populations of these groups might be “close to collapse”. (Why sharks are a fast vanishing breed, The Sunday Nation, April 22, 2018)

The researchers have called for urgent additional studies and monitoring efforts, and highlighted the need for incentives to manage shark fisheries in the Andaman Sea more effectively. Marine scientists here agree that there is scant information in regard to sharks.

Thailand has been attempting to protect the species following an international commitment, the International Plan of Action for Conservation and Management of Sharks, initiated by the Food and Agriculture Organisation.

It has been developing the National Plan of Action for Conservation and Management of Sharks, but it is not yet implemented.

Lt General Sansern Kaewkamnerd, the PM’s Office spokesman, said Prayut also expressed regret after many people had criticised the police handling of the controversial ex-monk who was previously the abbot of Onoi Temple.

The premier said authorities will have to be more cautious in such a case so as to avoid hurting the sentiment of many people who have high respects for the ex-monk who previously played an active role in the People’s Democratic Reform Committee, which staged protests against the government of Yingluck Shinawatra. The former Buddha Isara also faced lese majeste charges due to the unauthorized use of royal initials on amulets.

Deputy Prime Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya on Thursday received representatives of European Parliament’s Commission on Fisheries, Gabriel Mato and Kala Garcia, at Government House.

As both EU parliamentarians have played a major role in pushing for an end to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing globally, Chatchai assured them of the Thai government’s determination to reform the country’s fisheries industry.

He revealed that Thai authorities have been enforcing the law swiftly and profoundly with success in the suppression of crimes and law violations in the fisheries sector. A total of 4,427 cases were taken to court, with 88 per cent of them, or 3,883 cases, already ruled on by the courts.

According to the authorities, 2,982 cases breached fishing vessel regulations, 1,280 cases involved illegal fishing activities, 77 cases were violations of the labour protection law in the seafood industry, and 88 were human trafficking cases.

Chatchai also informed the delegates that since October 2017, the owners of fishing vessels must declare to the Port In – Port Out Centre in their locality that they had already complied with all aspects of legal requirements before going out to sea.

Time frame

Regarding legislation reform on human trafficking and forced labour, and improving the quality of life of fisheries workers, Chatchai revealed that the Thai government had set a time frame to ratify the International Labour Standards on Seafarers of the 188th Convention of International Labour Organisation, |as well as enforcement of the forced |labour suppression law by September next year.

“I have confirmed that all actions are not just aimed at getting the EU to revoke the yellow card to Thailand. Thailand is looking at sustainable fishing,” he said.

“The EU will be our key ally to work towards the Asean Common Fisheries Policy and set up the Asean IUU Task Force within next year.”

Since seizing power in 2014, the military junta led by General Prayut Chan-o-cha has largely abandoned its promises of sweeping reforms in favour of “soft power” campaigns like Thai Niyom (Thai-ism) – an effort to promote the ethereal and largely subjective concept of “Thainess”.

But scholars contacted for comment by The Sunday Nation believe the junta is presenting history and patriotism in such a way that freedom of expression is threatened.

On becoming Prime Minister, Prayut announced his ambition to bridge the decade-old political rift and reunite the country – to “return happiness to the Kingdom”. And to that end, he has taken to song, film, apparel and a textbook, touting a renewed nationalism and restored morality.

His critics say he’s actually serving up little more than propaganda.

Four years on, and despite hints from some on either side of the political conflict of a willingness to reconcile, the country remains unreformed, deeply divided and, given an economy that lags far behind the rest of Southeast Asia, not particularly happy.

In a Nida Poll conducted this month, the majority of respondents described their level of happiness as the same or lower than it was four years ago, before the coup. They cited the struggling economy, lax law enforcement, and restrictions on rights and freedoms.

One month after the coup, the general penned his first pop song, sure enough titled “Returning Happiness to the People”, which got a lot of airplay on TV and radio. In the years since, we’ve had five more tunes, with some of his lyrics portraying him as a “superhero” rushing to the country’s rescue.

Assistant Professor Pandit Chanrochanakit, deputy dean of political science at Chulalongkorn University, likens Prayut’s forays into pop culture to US President Donald Trump’s devotion to Twitter.

Prayut’s songs, he said flatly, are “state propaganda”, each one expressing a specific message at a particular time as he deems necessary.

“The government-run TV pool airs his messages daily, forcing the audience to hear his propaganda, and that diminishes our freedom,” Pandit said. “People with more liberal attitudes just turn it off and turn to alternative channels or the social media, where there are young activists performing anti-junta songs.”

Soon after the first song was released, Prayut followed up with “12 Core Values of Thailand” for primary-school pupils to recite either during their daily flag-raising ceremony or in class. It was intended as a moral guide.

“The persisting problems in Thailand that need to be solved urgently require inclusive cooperation from people of all levels, gender and age,” the premier said. “I suggest that we first define clear core values so we can build a strong nation. The people must first be strong.”

The 12 values include upholding the three pillars of nation, religion and monarchy, respecting elders and teachers, pursuing education in every form, preserving traditions, and understanding democratic ideals under the auspices of His Majesty the King.

The Office of the Prime Minister next recruited 12 movie directors to make a series of short “Thai Niyom” films, a cinematic variation of his efforts to foster a national identity. They echoed the 12 values, as did specially printed stickers for the phone app Line.

The Education Ministry set out to coach students in civic duty, discipline, morality and patriotism.

A book issued by the junta in October 2015, “History of the Thai Nation”, stirred criticism with its claim that the military had succeeded where elected governments had failed – by establishing “true democracy” in Thailand. Respected historians objected, describing the claim as “state ideology” rather than history.

“Bureaucrats writing history doesn’t work,” said one of them, Sunait Chutintaranond, of the civil service-produced text. “It leads to further conflict. Writing history takes time and requires an exchange of ideas among both history academics and independent experts.”

Chulalongkorn political science Assistant Professor Dr Pitch Pongsawat said the book at least served as “historical evidence” – recording that the junta leader, Prayut, used the Culture Ministry to issue propaganda.

“By entering this into the historical record, they shame themselves in public.”

The junta, however, had little trouble convincing citizens to dress more often in traditional clothing and visit heritage sites. It was aided enormously in this campaign by the popular television period drama “BuppeSanNivas” (“Love Destiny”).

“It’s been an interesting phenomenon – it’s got the younger generation watching TV soaps again,” noted Assistant Professor Yukti Mukdawijitra, a lecturer in sociology and anthropology at Thammasat University. “It reflects nostalgia, a yearning for the past, especially for ‘the good old days’. But the belief that the past was better than the present has been linked to biases in memory.

“It shows the mental illness of our society,” Yukti said. “Today we’re living in conflict, especially on the political front. Watching comical shows and fantasy soaps can temporarily heal people’s hearts. In reality we remain divided, and the fantasy is that we are united.”