Until a little less than two decades ago, very little was known about whale sharks. As knowledge about the biggest fish on the planet has increased, so has interest in them. Thanks to their gentle nature, their tendencies to school when conditions are right, and their propensity to travel through waters not far from shore, they have gained a huge amount of attention from the ecotourism industry. In some places, people are helping whale sharks; in other places, controversial practices are causing problems for the sharks, and tarnishing ecotourism operators’ reputations.
Swimming with Whale Sharks
Whale sharks are commonly encountered in places like Australia, Belize, Honduras, Kenya, Mexico, Mozambique, the Maldives, and the Philippines. While it is fantastic that local communities are benefiting from the sharks’ presence, some tour operators are operating in a manner that is less than eco-friendly.
In Cebu, Philippines, for example, whale sharks are aggregating around Oslob. This gathering began with a few itinerant sharks, and numbers increased as the animals discovered that they could get an easy meal from fishermen who hand fed them with krill. The fishermen began retaining their catch and baiting the sharks with it while taking tourists out for whale shark encounters. On the surface, this might not seem so awful, but any animal encounter that relies on baiting puts the animals at risk by causing them to lose their wariness of humans, and by becoming overly dependent on human activity for food. In addition, when activities like this are under-regulated, as is occurring in Cebu, the sharks are subject to additional risk of stranding in shallow areas, and of being injured by propeller strikes. In comparison, Donsol, Philippines is also an excellent place to encounter whale sharks; there, a strict code of conduct for business operators and tourists alike is enforced.
In Cenderwasih, Indonesia, a whale shark became entangled in a fishing net. When scientists rescued the animal, the encounter was filmed. Now, fishermen are baiting whale sharks with loaded fishing nets. At first, it seems as though the sharks are simply getting a free meal; instead, they are being placed in a dangerous situation. It’s possible that they could swallow a net or become entangled in it, and either of these situations would ultimately pose a risk to the animals’ health.
In Yucatan, Mexico, whale sharks aggregate naturally, in groups of between twenty and fifty individuals. They once visited Isla Holbox, which is situated on the Gulf of Mexico side of the Yucatan Peninsula; today, they come to the Caribbean side, not far from Cancun. As many as 300 whale sharks per day can be found here during some parts of the year. Unfortunately, the number of tourist groups heading out for whale shark encounters has increased dramatically over the past few years, and regulations are woefully lacking. As boat numbers increase, so does the likelihood of whale shark injuries.
These are just a few examples; however, they illustrate the need for stricter regulations that limit the number of boats to visit certain whale shark aggregations each day, and they underline the importance of ensuring that the ecotourism focus stays on sustainability and safety for everyone involved.