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STORY: SHARK ISLAND NEWSROOM READY VERSION
HEADLINE: CAN NEKTON SCIENTISTS UNLOCK THE SECRETS OF SHARK ISLAND?
DUR: 3.58
SOURCE: NEKTON
RESTRICTIONS: FREE ACCESS ALL PLATFORMS IN PERPETUITY/ NO ARCHIVE RESALE. MANDATORY ON SCREEN CREDIT "COURTESY OF NEKTON
STORYLINE
Anticipation is building on the far-flung island of Fuvamulah in the Maldives where the imminent arrival in its waters of the international Nekton science mission could unlock the mystery of why it has become home to one of the worlds largest, and seemingly healthiest, tiger shark populations.
The sharks – which can grow to several metres in length – are now a growing tourist attraction for diving enthusiasts, even if less popular with local fishermen who compete for the tuna the giant predators eat.
Scientists on the visiting Nekton Mission , who hail from the Maldives, Sri Lanka, India, South Africa and the UK , will use submersibles and other cutting-edge technology to map, film and sample the waters off the coast of Fuvamulah down to 1000 metres. They aim to provide answers to a range of unanswered questions about the shark habitat. If these apex predators are in good health it could bode well for the health of the rest of the marine environment.
Dive master,Hamna Hussain – a former national volleyball player,turned shark guide – has lots of questions for Nekton.
SOUNDBITE (English) Hamna Hussain, Shark Guide
“ Tiger sharks are known to go below thousands of metres , so we don’t know what they do ,we don’t know the radius of their migration, we don’t know where the pregnant ones are going to give birth, we don’t know if we have pups here ,we don’t know where the mating takes place, there are so many unanswered questions - so it would be interesting if something comes out of that . So there are so many things we can do when we get answers to these unanswered questions , so it’s very important that we actually know what they’re here for, where they’re going, so we can do something to protect them . “
Ahmed Inah has been involved in a project studying the tiger shark population. 200 have been identified, though the total may be closer to 500.
SOUNDBITE (English) Ahmed Inah, Dive School owner
“ So far we have more than 200 ID’d - different individuals-so from what we know that is the healthiest tiger shark population in the world. I think the most important thing is we don’t have a baseline data available because nobody has done anything to that scale around the island so it would help us to understand the topography or if they (Nekton)could help us (understand) a little bit why they’re here , why the sharks are around - not just tigers but threshers, hammerheads,whale sharks , so many different kind of sharks “
But much as Nekton scientists and the dive school community want more information; many local fishermen view tiger sharks in an altogether different light - they see them as a menace, stealing their catch.
SOUNDBITE (Dhivehi) Hassan Thahaan, Fisherman
"Sharks! Sharks are the biggest nuisance we face."
But with shark tourism an increasing part of the island’s economy , the prevailing tide may be running counter to the fishermen’s opinion. Shark guide Hamna Hussain summed up the mood of the group she had just escorted beneath the waves to view the giant predators
SOUNDBITE (English) Hamna Hussain, Shark Guide
“Amazing , that was an amazing dive, so good.. the sharks were amazing”.
The Nekton science team ,which includes 10 aquanauts from the Maldives, will be at work in Maldivian waters from September 4 to October 7.
1.Tiger sharks swimming within 100 metres of Fuvahmulah Harbour, Maldives
2. Aerial tiger shark swimming to Fuvahmulah Harbour entrance
3. Aerial Fuvahmulah Island
4. Shark Guide Hamna Hussain preparing equipment to dive
5. Second diver putting on fin
6. Shark Guide Hamna Hussain jumps off the side of diving support boat
7. Dive tourists with Hamna in water off Fuvahmulah Harbour entrance, support boat in background
8.SOUNDBITE (English) Hamna Hussain, Shark Guide
“ Tiger sharks are known to go below thousands of metres, so we don’t know what they do ,we don’t know the radius of their migration, we don’t know where our pregnant ones are going to give birth, we don’t know if we have pups here, we don’t know where the mating takes place, there are so many unanswered questions - so it would be interesting if something comes out of that . So there are so many things we can do when we get answers to these unanswered questions , so it’s very important that we actually know what they’re here for, where they’re going, so we can do something to protect them."
9. Ahmed Inah, Dive School owner preparing equipment on dive boat,taking oxygen tanks ashore
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Ahmed Inah, Dive School owner
“So far we have more than 200 tiger sharks ID’d - different individuals-so from what we know that is the healthiest tiger shark population in the world.
11. Aerial dive boat leaving port
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Ahmed Inah, Dive School owner "I think the most important thing is we don’t have a baseline data available because nobody has done anything to that scale around the island so it would help us to understand the topography or if they (Nekton)could help us (understand) a little bit why they’re here , why the sharks are around - not just tigers but threshers, hammerheads,whale sharks , so many different kind of sharks “
13. Tuna being sprayed with water, carried by fishermen and sold at Fuvahmulah Fish Market
14. SOUNDBITE (Dhivehi) Hassan Thahaan, Fisherman “Sharks! Sharks are the biggest nuisance we face “
15. Shark tourists underwater off Fuvahmulah Harbour interacting with tiger sharks
16. Tourist divers back on surface bobbing around
17. SOUNDBITE (English) Hamna Hussain, Shark Guide
“Amazing , that was an amazing dive, that was really good.. the sharks were amazing”. 18. Tiger shark swimming in front of camera
To download the media briefing in full, please click through on the link below:
21 September 2022
