Why do whale sharks visit the waters of Cadiz City?

Last August, four whale sharks were spotted in the coastal areas of Cadiz City.

Whale sharks are large marine creatures that usually travel solo throughout the world's oceans. Yet, they tend to congregate in places abundant with plankton and krill which their primary food sources, said the Cadiz City Environment and Natural Resources in a Facebook post.

Now, let's talk about how a healthy and clean wetlands ecosystem impacts the krill population, consequently luring whale sharks to the coast of Cadiz City.

Mangroves provide a crucial habitat for various marine life, including krill. These small crustaceans thrive in the sheltered and nutrient-rich waters around mangroves. The roots of mangrove trees offer protection to young krill, shielding them from predators.

Moreover, mangroves in our wetlands play a role in nutrient cycling. They trap sediment and organic matter, which eventually becomes food for the krill. The mangrove ecosystem provides a stable environment for krill reproduction and growth. As the krill population flourishes, there's an abundant food source available for whale sharks, which are drawn to areas teeming with these tiny organisms.

In the case of Cadiz City, if our wetland ecosystem is healthy and clean, it supports a thriving krill population.

This, in turn, creates an attractive feeding ground for the whale sharks. The proximity of these nutrient-rich waters to the city's coast leads the whale sharks to gather there in search of their favorite food

The remarkable presence of whale sharks feeding on krill in Cadiz City's coastal waters underscores a unique ecological relationship that doesn't disrupt the livelihood of local fishermen. Unlike many marine predators, whale sharks primarily consume planktonic organisms like krill, which are distinct from the targeted fish species sought by the local fishing community.

This differentiation in dietary preferences plays a pivotal role in preventing direct competition between whale sharks and local fishermen. The large-scale filter-feeding behavior of whale sharks focuses on consuming minute plankton, particularly krill, while the fishermen's catch typically comprises larger fish species that inhabit different ecological niches. (PR)