Vacationers who spent time in water sports in the Gulf of Eilat spotted a giant whale shark this afternoon (Saturday).
This is the first sighting of a whale shark in a year and a half in the bay.
The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and reaches a length of 12 meters and weighs up to 20 tons.
Despite its size, it is not considered dangerous to humans because it feeds on plankton and is not considered a predator.
Yulia Bar-Dror, a skipper with years of experience sailing boats in the Gulf of Eilat, was the first to recognize the whale shark in the water.
"No matter how many times I meet this amazing nature creation, it excites me as if it is the first time. Some people were apprehensive at first, but the excitement and enthusiasm surpassed the fear. We are lucky to meet the first whale seen in the bay in the last two years. I am always excited to see That shark, "she said.
Adi Barash, a shark researcher from the "Israel Shark" organization, said: "It is very gratifying to see a whale shark sighting in the Gulf of Eilat after a year and a half in which this species has not been seen in the area. We do not know why they did not come to Eilat Bay last summer. It is important for us at the Sharks Association that the vacationers and bathers, and especially the boat owners, know the basic rules for conducting themselves in the bay in order not to harm the sharks.
"If you notice a whale shark in the area keep the motor boats down to 8 knots, neutralize the engine near the shark so as not to hit it. Divers and swimmers must also keep a distance of at least 3 meters from the shark, not chase it or block it. We try to identify "Any shark that comes to the bay according to the spots on it and in order for anyone who meets a whale shark to help us and contribute to the identification of the sharks, it is worth photographing the left side of the shark and sending the observation to us," says Brush.
It should be noted that during the corona period, when the beaches were almost empty of bathers, about 17 different items of documented whale sharks were seen in the Gulf of Eilat.
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