OceanExpert ID : 27151
Whale Shark and Oceanic Research Center
WSORC
(Whale Shark and Oceanic Research Center)
Barrio Sandy Bay
Utila, Islas de la Bahia, Honduras
34201
Honduras
Type
NGO
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Telephone
+50493822776
Activities
WSORC have been gathering data on the whale shark population since 1997, and have a comprehensive sightings database. We have been granted the only research permit to study whale sharks in the country by the Honduran Environmental Department. Our team established whale shark encounter guidelines to promote responsible whale shark encounters, and in 2008 these guidelines were passed through the Honduran parliament to protect whale sharks by law.
WSORC was established to increase the presence and availability of researchers in Honduras to work with whale sharks. Our aim is to gather data on whale sharks and their environmental conditions to answer some of the fundamental questions about this species such as:
What attracts whale sharks to Utila and when are they most abundant?
Is the number of whale sharks visiting Utila increasing or decreasing?
How can our community reduce its impacts on whale sharks while continuing to benefit from their presence?
