Brad Norman - 2006 Laureates

Brad Norman is one of the first people to study whale sharks. His work confirmed that the white spots on their bodies form a distinctive pattern unique to each individual fish. Brad Norman developed a photo-identification system which uses whale shark sightings and photography around the world as a tool to contribute to the conservation ot this charismatic species. Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are known to travel extensively across the oceans, but their demographics, migratory patterns and reproductive behaviour are still a mystery. Up to 20 metres long and weighting up to 20 tonnes, the whale shark is the world’s biggest living fish. Its non-predatory behaviour earned it the title of "gentle giant". A keen diver, Brad Norman helped draft simple guidelines for photographing whale sharks. Divers worldwide can log their images on the ECOCEAN website (www.whaleshark.org), where they will be analysed. Analysis of photographs of whale sharks around the world will provide Norman (centre) and his team with biological and ecological data that will lead to effective conservation measures. Brad Norman using the ECOCEAN system which identifies individual whale sharks by running an algorithm adapted from astronomy. Since 2000, Brad Norman has been educating children, the public, local authorities and tourism operators worldwide about whale shark conservation. Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia is a model for whale shark ecotourism that can be applied in locations around the world where the sharks appear regularly.
Brad Norman is one of the first people to study whale sharks. His work confirmed that the white spots on their bodies form a distinctive pattern unique to each individual fish.

©Rolex Awards/Kurt Amsler

Ningaloo Marine Park, Australia, 2006
Brad Norman is one of the first people to study whale sharks. His work confirmed that the white spots on their bodies form a distinctive pattern unique to each individual fish.

Brad Norman developed a photo-identification system which uses whale shark sightings and photography around the world as a tool to contribute to the conservation ot this charismatic species.

©Rolex Awards/Kurt Amsler

Ningaloo Marine Park, Australia, 2006
Brad Norman developed a photo-identification system which uses whale shark sightings and photography around the world as a tool to contribute to the conservation ot this charismatic species.

Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are known to travel extensively across the oceans, but their demographics, migratory patterns and reproductive behaviour are still a mystery.

©Rolex Awards/Kurt Amsler

Ningaloo Marine Park, Australia, 2006
Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are known to travel extensively across the oceans, but their demographics, migratory patterns and reproductive behaviour are still a mystery.

Up to 20 metres long and weighting up to 20 tonnes, the whale shark is the world’s biggest living fish. Its non-predatory behaviour earned it the title of "gentle giant".

©Rolex Awards/Kurt Amsler

Ningaloo Marine Park, Australia, 2006
Up to 20 metres long and weighting up to 20 tonnes, the whale shark is the world’s biggest living fish. Its non-predatory behaviour earned it the title of "gentle giant".

A keen diver, Brad Norman helped draft simple guidelines for photographing whale sharks. Divers worldwide can log their images on the ECOCEAN website (www.whaleshark.org), where they will be analysed.

©Rolex Awards/Kurt Amsler

Ningaloo Marine Park, Australia, 2006
A keen diver, Brad Norman helped draft simple guidelines for photographing whale sharks. Divers worldwide can log their images on the ECOCEAN website (www.whaleshark.org), where they will be analysed.

Analysis of photographs of whale sharks around the world will provide Norman (centre) and his team with biological and ecological data that will lead to effective conservation measures.

©Rolex Awards/Kurt Amsler

Ningaloo Marine Park, Australia, 2006
Analysis of photographs of whale sharks around the world will provide Norman (centre) and his team with biological and ecological data that will lead to effective conservation measures.

Brad Norman using the ECOCEAN system which identifies individual whale sharks by running an algorithm adapted from astronomy.

©Rolex Awards/Kurt Amsler

Ningaloo Marine Park, Australia, 2006
Brad Norman using the ECOCEAN system which identifies individual whale sharks by running an algorithm adapted from astronomy.

Since 2000, Brad Norman has been educating children, the public, local authorities and tourism operators worldwide about whale shark conservation.

©Rolex Awards/Kurt Amsler

Ningaloo Marine Park, Australia, 2006
Since 2000, Brad Norman has been educating children, the public, local authorities and tourism operators worldwide about whale shark conservation.

Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia is a model for whale shark ecotourism that can be applied in locations around the world where the sharks appear regularly.

©Rolex Awards/Kurt Amsler

Ningaloo Marine Park, Australia, 2006
Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia is a model for whale shark ecotourism that can be applied in locations around the world where the sharks appear regularly.