What we do

The Madagascar Whale Shark Project (MWSP) is a collaborative research and conservation project that was created in 2016, following unexpected high numbers of whale sharks recorded in 2015, thanks to opportunistic data collection by a partner tourism operator, les Baleines Rand’eau. In 2019 we became a registered foundation focusing on three key aspects.

Research

Our main scientific objective is to establish the occurrence, residency and population structure of whale sharks off Nosy Be through photo-identification.
We also are collecting skin samples, investigating prey distribution and have previously satellite-tagged whale sharks.

Conservation

We have implemented a code of conduct since 2017 and are collecting data on the socio-economic value of whale sharks. We also actively support the development of effective legal protection for whale sharks, as well as local management initiatives.

Education

Community engagement is a key tenet of our work, and we currently work in various schools in Nosy Be through our education programme. We also lead workshops on sustainable whale shark interactions while in the field.

Volunteer with us
Join us as a volunteer to participate in data collection on the field. The 2022 season is now full-dates for 2023 will be announced in March next year!

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Join our Patreon

In the our Patreon, you’ll deep dive into the behind the scenes of a not-for-profit and benefit from the expertise of professionals supporting conservation. Join us to support the project’s vital work… and benefit from exclusive content, behind-the-scenes snippets and advice to help you learn and grow as a conservationist.

Code of conduct
We are working directly with operators to ensure best-practice guidelines are followed during interactions with whale sharks in Madagascar, based on scientific publications studying the impact of tourism on whale shark behaviour.

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