Menu
Sharks in Watamu
Marine National
Park, Kenya
Watamu Marine National Park is an important breeding ground for a number of Critically Endangered and Near Threatened species. A Rocha Kenya carries out scuba surveys and deploys Baited Remote Underwater Video Stations (BRUVS) along the reef slope to monitor the habitats and populations of sharks.
The project was funded by the Shark Conservation Fund, a collaboration of philanthropists committed to reversing the threats faced by the world’s sharks and rays and was sponsored by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.
Some of the sharks and rays seen at Watamu Marine National Park:
Whitetip Reef Sharks: mostly nocturnal and have been found resting under rocks and crevices.
Blacktip Reef Sharks: common in the marine park but are classified as Near Threatened. Huge aggregations are often spotted along the intertidal zone and the pups can be seen close to the shore. The marine team is monitoring this species carefully to study its behaviour, habitat and threats.
Marbled Electric Rays: have electric organs at the base of their pectoral fins that generate a strong, electric discharge, which they use to subdue prey and drive off predators.
Honeycomb Stingrays: classified as Vulnerable and have been seen in the park’s shallow seagrass beds. From tip to tail they measure about 2 metres in length.
Halavi Guitarfish: a Critically Endangered species that has been seen in the seagrass and sandy beds of the marine park.
Spotted Eagle Rays: commonly found in the coral reefs, feeding on a variety of invertebrates.
Whale Sharks: commonly seen between the months of December and February when there are sufficient krill and phytoplankton.
Get our email updates
We would love to keep you updated by email with new videos and inspiring stories from around the world, as well as opportunities to get involved and make a difference.
Get our email updates
We would love to keep you updated by email with new videos and inspiring stories from around the world, as well as opportunities to get involved and make a difference.