Maersk Oil Qatar’s Qatar Whale Shark Research Project documentary film will feature on board Qatar Airways’ in-flight entertainment system for a six-month period.
The airline will also publish a special article about the large aggregations of whale sharks found offshore Qatar in its September in-flight magazine.    
Maersk Oil Qatar managing director Lewis Affleck said, “Qatar’s offshore environment is rich in biodiversity. As Qatar’s largest offshore oil producer, Maersk Oil is committed to understanding and protecting the environment in which we operate through partnership programmes such as the Qatar Whale Shark Research Project.
“We’d like to thank Qatar Airways who have provided millions of travellers with the opportunity to learn more about Qatar’s whale sharks and the unique biodiversity found in Qatar.”
In 2011, Maersk Oil Qatar joined hands with Ministry of Environment to support the Qatar Whale Shark Research Project. Led by the ministry, it aims to discover more about the whale sharks that visit Qatari waters from May to September each year.
Aggregations in excess of 100 whale sharks have been observed in and around the Al Shaheen field. Although a whale shark can measure up to 20m in length and weigh more than 30 tonnes, little is still known about this enigmatic creature.
The documentary, shot by Emmy award-winning underwater cameraman Michael Pitts, can also be watched online on the Qatar Whale Shark Research Project website (www.qatarwhalesharkproject.com), which contains news, information and
photographs on the project.