Research on whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) was conducted from September 1st to December 20th, 2020 in Kwatisore waters. Kwatisore waters are within the conservation area of the Cenderawasih Bay National Park and have specifications for the number of whale sharks and the appearance of new individuals. The appearance of whale sharks individuals takes place every day around the boat life net area that is anchored in Kwatisore waters. This study aims to assess whale shark aggregation, particularly the total appearances and number of individual appearances in eight boat life net units. The number of appearances and the number of individual whale sharks is very dependent on the catch of anchovies by each boat life net unit and the feed of anchovies given by the fishermen. The results showed that there were 499 appearances of whale sharks consisting of 15 individuals, of which 13 individuals were identified, while 2 were new individuals who had not been identified. The new individual for ID 182 is named Yan Maruanaya and ID 183 is named Bram Maruanaya. The percentage of whale sharks appears during the period of September to December 2020 is 100% male with a length of 3 to 6 m.

Hiu paus (Rhincodon typus) adalah ikan terbesar di dunia yang sangat berpotensi dalam bidang wisata, namun potensi ancamannya juga tinggi jika tidak dikelola dengan baik. Perairan Kwatisore merupakan salah satu habitat hiu paus di Indonesia yang terlihat sering muncul. Hal tersebut menjadi fenomena yang unik karena hiu paus muncul setiap hari dan sepanjang tahun, sehingga berpeluang untuk pengembangan wisata. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji karakteristik pola makan hiu paus dan agregasinya, terutama total jumlah kemunculan dan jumlah individu di perairan Kwatisore. Pengambilan data dalam penelitian ini berupa data primer dan dilakukan dari bulan Juli sampai September 2020. Metode pengambilan data dilakukan sekali setiap bulan (time series) melalui koleksi untuk mengkaji pola makan antar individu hiu paus dengan pengamatan secara langsung ketika hiu paus naik ke permukaan perairan dan berada di dalam bagan yang berjumlah 5 unit alat tangkap bagan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa terjadi 275 kemunculan hiu paus, yang terdiri dari 18 individu. Jumlah kemunculan dan jumlah individu hiu paus sangat tergantung pada hasil tangkapan ikan teri oleh setiap unit alat tangkap bagan. Kemunculan hiu paus berada dalam petuanan hak ulayat laut Kampung Akudiomi. Kemunculan hiu paus dominan terjadi pada pagi hari dan persentase kemunculan 100% berjenis kelamin jantan dengan ukuran panjang total berkisar antara 3 hingga 7,5 m.

Research on whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) was conducted from April to June 2020 in Kwatisore waters within the Cenderawasih Bay National Park. This study aims to assess the aggregation and feeding behavior of whale sharks in the boat lift net area anchored in Kwatisore waters. The results showed that whale shark aggregation, especially the number of individual whale sharks that rose to the surface of the waters took place every day and was highly dependent on the availability of anchovy (Stolephorus sp.) as a catch of the life boat. The whale sharks that rose to the surface occurred in the morning, afternoon and evening with a total of 82 occurrences in 4 units of boat lift net. The results of the chi-square statistical test showed that there was no significant relationship between the month of observation with the presence or emergence of whale sharks to the water surface in the morning, afternoon and evening. The whale sharks range in length from 4 to 7 m and are predominantly male. The eating behavior of whale sharks while close to the boat lift net area ranges from 4 to 30 hours each day by forming a unique pattern, namely the queue pattern. The behaviors of consuming food in the boat lift net area are in a vertical position and sucking anchovies provided by the fishermen.

Kwatisore waters in the Cenderawasih Bay National Park area is one of the whale sharks’ habitats in Indonesia. As shark sightings seem to occur daily there is the opportunity for ecotourism development in the area. This study aims to quantify the occurrence of whale sharks at Kwatisore, and estimate the carrying capacity of the area, together with its suitability for ecotourism based on whale shark aggregations. Primary data collection on the appearance of whale sharks was carried out every day through a census technique on 7 designated areas (Apr to Aug, 2022). Every whale shark that appears on the surface of the water is photographed and identified by an ID number based on the I3Sv2.0 and its sex determined. During the census period, 709 whale sharks’ sightings were recorded mostly in the morning. There were 15 individuals in total, all males with a total length ranging from 3-7 m. The carrying capacity of the area for whale shark ecotourism in Kwatisore waters is a maximum of 252 people per day who are allowed to interact with whale sharks, while the tourism suitability index is included in the very appropriate category for whale shark tourism.