most people when you say Arabia they think camels terrorism pirates oil and
think camels terrorism pirates oil and
think camels terrorism pirates oil and gas they don’t think coral reefs or
gas they don’t think coral reefs or
gas they don’t think coral reefs or sharks so I proposed a story to National
sharks so I proposed a story to National
sharks so I proposed a story to National Geographic magazine to kind of change
Geographic magazine to kind of change
Geographic magazine to kind of change that you know cause Arabia you know is
that you know cause Arabia you know is
that you know cause Arabia you know is home to some of the most incredible
home to some of the most incredible
home to some of the most incredible marine ecosystems on our planet you know
marine ecosystems on our planet you know
marine ecosystems on our planet you know fortunately the story was approved and
fortunately the story was approved and
fortunately the story was approved and off I went you know at the same time as
off I went you know at the same time as
off I went you know at the same time as the Arab Spring that was going on so my
the Arab Spring that was going on so my
the Arab Spring that was going on so my timing on these stories is not ideal but
timing on these stories is not ideal but
timing on these stories is not ideal but nonetheless you know the Arabian
nonetheless you know the Arabian
nonetheless you know the Arabian Peninsula and we covered parts of the
Peninsula and we covered parts of the
Peninsula and we covered parts of the African coast as well the Red Sea the
African coast as well the Red Sea the
African coast as well the Red Sea the Gulf of Aden the Arabian Sea and then
Gulf of Aden the Arabian Sea and then
Gulf of Aden the Arabian Sea and then the Persian Gulf began in the Gulf of
the Persian Gulf began in the Gulf of
the Persian Gulf began in the Gulf of Aden on the Somali Djibouti border
Aden on the Somali Djibouti border
Aden on the Somali Djibouti border sandwiched between pirates and the
sandwiched between pirates and the
sandwiched between pirates and the Western naval forces hunting the Pirates
Western naval forces hunting the Pirates
Western naval forces hunting the Pirates there is an aggregation of whale sharks
there is an aggregation of whale sharks
there is an aggregation of whale sharks which nobody knows about and every year
which nobody knows about and every year
which nobody knows about and every year is young juvenile whale sharks aggregate
is young juvenile whale sharks aggregate
is young juvenile whale sharks aggregate to feed whale sharks have fingerprints
to feed whale sharks have fingerprints
to feed whale sharks have fingerprints just like us and you can identify them
just like us and you can identify them
just like us and you can identify them by looking at the spot pattern on them
by looking at the spot pattern on them
by looking at the spot pattern on them and each whale shark is completely
and each whale shark is completely
and each whale shark is completely unique with the spot patterns so after a
unique with the spot patterns so after a
unique with the spot patterns so after a week or two I think there was almost
week or two I think there was almost
week or two I think there was almost more than a hundred different whale
more than a hundred different whale
more than a hundred different whale sharks feeding in that larger area the
sharks feeding in that larger area the
sharks feeding in that larger area the biggest danger for a photographer here
biggest danger for a photographer here
biggest danger for a photographer here is becoming a whale shark sandwich and
is becoming a whale shark sandwich and
is becoming a whale shark sandwich and then you get this sort of you know these
then you get this sort of you know these
then you get this sort of you know these guys actually suck the water in it’s
guys actually suck the water in it’s
guys actually suck the water in it’s incredible you know stationary feeding
incredible you know stationary feeding
incredible you know stationary feeding gulping behavior I also spend a lot of
gulping behavior I also spend a lot of
gulping behavior I also spend a lot of time with the local Somali and fre
time with the local Somali and fre
time with the local Somali and fre fishermen because I wanted to document
fishermen because I wanted to document
fishermen because I wanted to document their relationship with the ocean I
their relationship with the ocean I
their relationship with the ocean I spent many nights out at sea with them
spent many nights out at sea with them
spent many nights out at sea with them and then one night after midnight they
and then one night after midnight they
and then one night after midnight they go hey you know we sometimes have lots
go hey you know we sometimes have lots
go hey you know we sometimes have lots of well sharks around our boat at night
of well sharks around our boat at night
of well sharks around our boat at night and I go where sharks don’t feed at
and I go where sharks don’t feed at
and I go where sharks don’t feed at night they go yes they do these guys
night they go yes they do these guys
night they go yes they do these guys have these sort of lights on their boats
have these sort of lights on their boats
have these sort of lights on their boats and with those lights they attract more
and with those lights they attract more
and with those lights they attract more small plankton which attracts baitfish
small plankton which attracts baitfish
small plankton which attracts baitfish and they catch these bait fish with nets
and they catch these bait fish with nets
and they catch these bait fish with nets and then they use the bait to catch on a
and then they use the bait to catch on a
and then they use the bait to catch on a hook to catch larger fish and the whale
hook to catch larger fish and the whale
hook to catch larger fish and the whale sharks love the free meal of plankton
sharks love the free meal of plankton
sharks love the free meal of plankton and they rub up against the boats and
and they rub up against the boats and
and they rub up against the boats and I’m going I have to take this picture no
I’m going I have to take this picture no
I’m going I have to take this picture no one had actually documented this before
one had actually documented this before
one had actually documented this before so I go in the water and I’m using my
so I go in the water and I’m using my
so I go in the water and I’m using my flashes and they ruin the complete
flashes and they ruin the complete
flashes and they ruin the complete nighttime ambien
nighttime ambien
nighttime ambien and the whale sharks don’t like him and
and the whale sharks don’t like him and
and the whale sharks don’t like him and then I shoot without them but the lights
then I shoot without them but the lights
then I shoot without them but the lights on these boats are just way way too dim
on these boats are just way way too dim
on these boats are just way way too dim you know luckily I come prepared and you
you know luckily I come prepared and you
you know luckily I come prepared and you know at night you know we parked the big
know at night you know we parked the big
know at night you know we parked the big boat next to the small fishing boats and
boat next to the small fishing boats and
boat next to the small fishing boats and we turn on the light and the light
we turn on the light and the light
we turn on the light and the light attracts little plankton which attracts
attracts little plankton which attracts
attracts little plankton which attracts big plankton which attracts little fish
big plankton which attracts little fish
big plankton which attracts little fish which attracts bigger fish and then
which attracts bigger fish and then
which attracts bigger fish and then after an hour – it attracted the world’s
after an hour – it attracted the world’s
after an hour – it attracted the world’s biggest fish it’s kind of weird because
biggest fish it’s kind of weird because
biggest fish it’s kind of weird because it’s hard to you know get a perspective
it’s hard to you know get a perspective
it’s hard to you know get a perspective of size with whale sharks but these are
of size with whale sharks but these are
of size with whale sharks but these are actually juveniles this is an
actually juveniles this is an
actually juveniles this is an aggregation of sub adults now at first I
aggregation of sub adults now at first I
aggregation of sub adults now at first I was disappointed out of just small whale
was disappointed out of just small whale
was disappointed out of just small whale sharks just a hundred of them that sucks
sharks just a hundred of them that sucks
sharks just a hundred of them that sucks I wish they were bigger when I was
I wish they were bigger when I was
I wish they were bigger when I was taking the images having them small like
taking the images having them small like
taking the images having them small like she made all the difference because you
she made all the difference because you
she made all the difference because you know you’re underwater all you have is
know you’re underwater all you have is
know you’re underwater all you have is this very thin cone of light and you’re
this very thin cone of light and you’re
this very thin cone of light and you’re in the dark and all you can see is these
in the dark and all you can see is these
in the dark and all you can see is these whale sharks moving in and out of the
whale sharks moving in and out of the
whale sharks moving in and out of the light like ships you know looming in and
light like ships you know looming in and
light like ships you know looming in and out of the fog and then you get pictures
out of the fog and then you get pictures
out of the fog and then you get pictures like this you know just kind of just
like this you know just kind of just
like this you know just kind of just coming out of the gloom but I really
coming out of the gloom but I really
coming out of the gloom but I really wanted a picture of the whale shark more
wanted a picture of the whale shark more
wanted a picture of the whale shark more interacting with the light I did this
interacting with the light I did this
interacting with the light I did this for day after day and at the end I got
for day after day and at the end I got
for day after day and at the end I got this frame you know the whale shark was
this frame you know the whale shark was
this frame you know the whale shark was vertically suction feeding for about a
vertically suction feeding for about a
vertically suction feeding for about a half an hour in that position so this
half an hour in that position so this
half an hour in that position so this was you know anybody could have taken
was you know anybody could have taken
was you know anybody could have taken that picture cuz he stood there for that
that picture cuz he stood there for that
that picture cuz he stood there for that long not much you point and shoot not
long not much you point and shoot not
long not much you point and shoot not much skill and there but with a larger
much skill and there but with a larger
much skill and there but with a larger whale shark I would have gotten a fin or
whale shark I would have gotten a fin or
whale shark I would have gotten a fin or half a head so it’s only because these
half a head so it’s only because these
half a head so it’s only because these guys are juveniles that is the only
guys are juveniles that is the only
guys are juveniles that is the only reason I was able to get this picture
reason I was able to get this picture
reason I was able to get this picture you know from the Gulf of Aden Saudi
you know from the Gulf of Aden Saudi
you know from the Gulf of Aden Saudi Arabia you know my interest was mainly
Arabia you know my interest was mainly
Arabia you know my interest was mainly up on the Iraq Iran Kuwait border my
up on the Iraq Iran Kuwait border my
up on the Iraq Iran Kuwait border my mother despairs
mother despairs
mother despairs every time she finds that where my next
every time she finds that where my next
every time she finds that where my next assignment is and of course you know
assignment is and of course you know
assignment is and of course you know armed guards wherever I went you know
armed guards wherever I went you know
armed guards wherever I went you know and this is a world of mud mud mud and
and this is a world of mud mud mud and
and this is a world of mud mud mud and more mud and we have to use a hovercraft
more mud and we have to use a hovercraft
more mud and we have to use a hovercraft starwars right I mean come on in a
starwars right I mean come on in a
starwars right I mean come on in a hovercraft it was just like crazy and
hovercraft it was just like crazy and
hovercraft it was just like crazy and why did I go there well I wanted to
why did I go there well I wanted to
why did I go there well I wanted to photograph the animal that made these
photograph the animal that made these
photograph the animal that made these now these are very very tiny mud walls
now these are very very tiny mud walls
now these are very very tiny mud walls but in a desert environment like this
but in a desert environment like this
but in a desert environment like this they’re lifesavers because basically
they’re lifesavers because basically
they’re lifesavers because basically they retain water and the animal that
they retain water and the animal that
they retain water and the animal that made them are mudskippers not your a
made them are mudskippers not your a
made them are mudskippers not your a normal garden variety mudskipper arabian
normal garden variety mudskipper arabian
normal garden variety mudskipper arabian mud skippers
mud skippers
mud skippers that big and this thick and they do
that big and this thick and they do
that big and this thick and they do these incredible courtship displays they
these incredible courtship displays they
these incredible courtship displays they leap as high as they can whichever male
leap as high as they can whichever male
leap as high as they can whichever male leaves the highest gets the female I
leaves the highest gets the female I
leaves the highest gets the female I think they also have these cool fighting
think they also have these cool fighting
think they also have these cool fighting displays they they puff each other up
displays they they puff each other up
displays they they puff each other up and they raise the dorsal and just stare
and they raise the dorsal and just stare
and they raise the dorsal and just stare at each other and then they do all these
at each other and then they do all these
at each other and then they do all these sort of you know for these pictures you
sort of you know for these pictures you
sort of you know for these pictures you lie in the mud for an hour before these
lie in the mud for an hour before these
lie in the mud for an hour before these fish come out of the hole so you are
fish come out of the hole so you are
fish come out of the hole so you are stationary for days to get you know
stationary for days to get you know
stationary for days to get you know these little glimpses but yeah I love
these little glimpses but yeah I love
these little glimpses but yeah I love these guys like oh here I’m screaming
these guys like oh here I’m screaming
these guys like oh here I’m screaming right that’s my female not skipper or
right that’s my female not skipper or
right that’s my female not skipper or whatever yeah let’s move on you know I
whatever yeah let’s move on you know I
whatever yeah let’s move on you know I moved on to Turtles and on the Arabian
moved on to Turtles and on the Arabian
moved on to Turtles and on the Arabian Sea and as I was shooting all this great
Sea and as I was shooting all this great
Sea and as I was shooting all this great biodiversity I’m going hang on I’m not
biodiversity I’m going hang on I’m not
biodiversity I’m going hang on I’m not seeing any sharks after the whale sharks
seeing any sharks after the whale sharks
seeing any sharks after the whale sharks I hadn’t seen a single other shocking
I hadn’t seen a single other shocking
I hadn’t seen a single other shocking one what’s going on here and I figured
one what’s going on here and I figured
one what’s going on here and I figured it out when I was you know in Oman
it out when I was you know in Oman
it out when I was you know in Oman photographing seasonal kelp forest
photographing seasonal kelp forest
photographing seasonal kelp forest communities at Salalah and one evening I
communities at Salalah and one evening I
communities at Salalah and one evening I was in this little place called Mira but
was in this little place called Mira but
was in this little place called Mira but it’s this place that kind of time forgot
it’s this place that kind of time forgot
it’s this place that kind of time forgot it’s this sort of old-school Arab
it’s this sort of old-school Arab
it’s this sort of old-school Arab fishing village and there’s this wall of
fishing village and there’s this wall of
fishing village and there’s this wall of people at the port and I kind of you
people at the port and I kind of you
people at the port and I kind of you know gently elbow my way through it you
know gently elbow my way through it you
know gently elbow my way through it you know and as the crowd parts I see this
know and as the crowd parts I see this
know and as the crowd parts I see this this is about 93 silky sharks this is
this is about 93 silky sharks this is
this is about 93 silky sharks this is one boat slow in every hour another boat
one boat slow in every hour another boat
one boat slow in every hour another boat arrives and offloads exactly the same
arrives and offloads exactly the same
arrives and offloads exactly the same number of sharks so the one night I was
number of sharks so the one night I was
number of sharks so the one night I was there I think I must be in a thousand
there I think I must be in a thousand
there I think I must be in a thousand silky sharks and then they auction
silky sharks and then they auction
silky sharks and then they auction everything off and then at the end of
everything off and then at the end of
everything off and then at the end of the auction all the Sharks are loaded
the auction all the Sharks are loaded
the auction all the Sharks are loaded into these freezer trucks and they’re
into these freezer trucks and they’re
into these freezer trucks and they’re taken away and I wanted to know where so
taken away and I wanted to know where so
taken away and I wanted to know where so I started following these trucks I ended
I started following these trucks I ended
I started following these trucks I ended up in these ice houses now these trucks
up in these ice houses now these trucks
up in these ice houses now these trucks are not freezer trucks they’re insulated
are not freezer trucks they’re insulated
are not freezer trucks they’re insulated but they’re badly insulated so every you
but they’re badly insulated so every you
but they’re badly insulated so every you know a few hundred kilometers they have
know a few hundred kilometers they have
know a few hundred kilometers they have to restart with ice and that’s where
to restart with ice and that’s where
to restart with ice and that’s where they kind of you know barter the Sharks
they kind of you know barter the Sharks
they kind of you know barter the Sharks and we sell them and there I found out
and we sell them and there I found out
and we sell them and there I found out that an actual fact all these sharks are
that an actual fact all these sharks are
that an actual fact all these sharks are going to Dubai so I went to Dubai and
going to Dubai so I went to Dubai and
going to Dubai so I went to Dubai and there I saw you know a dozens of Amani
there I saw you know a dozens of Amani
there I saw you know a dozens of Amani trucks offloading large Arabian Sea
trucks offloading large Arabian Sea
trucks offloading large Arabian Sea sharks and you know fins are only cut
sharks and you know fins are only cut
sharks and you know fins are only cut off there and the meat goes to
off there and the meat goes to
off there and the meat goes to Bangladesh it goes to Pakistan it goes
Bangladesh it goes to Pakistan it goes
Bangladesh it goes to Pakistan it goes to Sri Lanka for consumption it’s the
to Sri Lanka for consumption it’s the
to Sri Lanka for consumption it’s the cheapest sort of mean protein there is
cheapest sort of mean protein there is
cheapest sort of mean protein there is and the fins are export to Asia for
and the fins are export to Asia for
and the fins are export to Asia for Royal sounds and princely sums and it
Royal sounds and princely sums and it
Royal sounds and princely sums and it appears that over the last couple of
appears that over the last couple of
appears that over the last couple of years Dubai has become the fourth
years Dubai has become the fourth
years Dubai has become the fourth largest exporter of shark fins to Hong
largest exporter of shark fins to Hong
largest exporter of shark fins to Hong Kong
Kong
Kong the world and that is you know had
the world and that is you know had
the world and that is you know had really sort of bypassed most of the
really sort of bypassed most of the
really sort of bypassed most of the scientific literature and I’d reviewed
scientific literature and I’d reviewed
scientific literature and I’d reviewed so this was a massive surprise to
so this was a massive surprise to
so this was a massive surprise to actually able to document this trade
actually able to document this trade
actually able to document this trade route across the Great Arabian desert
route across the Great Arabian desert
route across the Great Arabian desert and you know went to Hong Kong
and you know went to Hong Kong
and you know went to Hong Kong afterwards and I tried to track these
afterwards and I tried to track these
afterwards and I tried to track these fins all the way to Hong Kong there’s a
fins all the way to Hong Kong there’s a
fins all the way to Hong Kong there’s a street in Hong Kong and basically is
street in Hong Kong and basically is
street in Hong Kong and basically is dedicated only to shark fin and dried
dedicated only to shark fin and dried
dedicated only to shark fin and dried seafood I think it’s a hundred and forty
seafood I think it’s a hundred and forty
seafood I think it’s a hundred and forty different shops you know shark fin City
different shops you know shark fin City
different shops you know shark fin City and that’s where I felt my sharp snout
and that’s where I felt my sharp snout
and that’s where I felt my sharp snout dried in the shops you know the article
dried in the shops you know the article
dried in the shops you know the article was published 2012 a lot of conservation
was published 2012 a lot of conservation
was published 2012 a lot of conservation issues were addressed in it and you know
issues were addressed in it and you know
issues were addressed in it and you know it kind of really began a conversation
it kind of really began a conversation
it kind of really began a conversation in the Middle East as well about how to
in the Middle East as well about how to
in the Middle East as well about how to better manage when the shark fisheries
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