The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) on Monday monitored a gathering of whale sharks in Qatari waters, which annually witness the phenomenon. It is the largest such gathering in the world as their numbers exceeded 700 last year and expected to be higher this year, the ministry tweeted. The ministry confirmed the importance of public participation in the success of the whale shark gathering season in Qatari waters, in order to preserve the country's environment and ensure its biodiversity, noting that the MoECC is responsible for visits to the whale shark gathering areas.
The ministry has called upon citizens and residents living near beaches and the northern islands not to approach whale shark gathering areas and to report them immediately by communicating with the unified call centre at 184 in the event of any sightings or monitoring, and not to cause any disturbance with light or sound.