Brad Norman, director of ECOCEAN, the Australian marine conservation organization that runs the Web-based photo-ID library, says tourists can help monitor the movements of whale sharks and help protect the giant fish.
Scientists have enlisted the public's help in the photo identification of whale sharks, the world's largest fish. Divers are encouraged to submit any photos they take of whale sharks to a Web site (whalesharks.org) that tracks the endangered whale sharks around the world. Despite their giant size, whale sharks are harmless to divers and snorkelers. The patterns of spots on their backs are unique to each individual.
