AHMEDABAD, Sept 6 — The DNA profiling of whale sharks frequenting Gujarat coast will begin soon as the state government has granted permission for the same, aiming to study the population and migration of this fish species.
The bio-technology division of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi will conduct the profiling of sharks, visiting Gujarat coast seasonally in large numbers.
"The permission for conducting DNA profiling of whale sharks has been granted to the concerned agency," Principal Secretary Forest and Environment S K Nanda told PTI here.
"Also, the permission to collect samples for DNA profiling has been granted to a NGO — Wildlife Trust of India by the Gujarat government last month on a pre-condition that it will not harm the fish," a senior scientist at CMFRI Gulshad Mohammad said. (PNA/PTI) /mec