Introduction: Why Whale Sharks Matter
On August 30th each year, the world celebrates one of the ocean’s most extraordinary wonders: the whale shark (Rhincodon typus). The SSI International newsletter, dated 28th August 2025, described them as “gentle giants,” and it is no exaggeration. These colossal fish, the largest on Earth, can reach 12 metres or more in length, moving gracefully through tropical seas while filtering plankton and small fish from the water column.
And yet, despite their size and majesty, whale sharks remain deeply vulnerable. They are now listed as Endangered by the IUCN (Pierce & Norman, 2016). Protecting them is not just about saving one species. It is about safeguarding the ecosystems they support, the livelihoods of coastal communities, and the wellbeing of people who rely on healthy oceans for survival. Whale shark conservation becomes a story not just of biodiversity, but of balance between people and planet.
Meet the Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus)
Whale sharks are filter-feeding elasmobranchs with a physiology unlike almost any other shark. Their wide mouths can open up to 1.5 metres, allowing them to scoop vast quantities of plankton, krill, and small fish. Unlike many predators, they feed passively and harmlessly, a striking reminder that strength in the natural world often looks like gentleness.
They live primarily in tropical and subtropical waters, favouring warm seas between 21–30°C. Individuals have been tracked migrating thousands of kilometres between feeding grounds, often following seasonal plankton blooms (Sequeira et al., 2013). Their iconic spotted patterns are unique identifiers, much like fingerprints, and citizen science projects now use photo-ID catalogues to monitor individuals worldwide (Norman et al., 2017).
Ecophysiologically, whale sharks are adapted to warm waters, but their reliance on plankton makes them sensitive to environmental change. Research in the Mexican Caribbean shows that environmental factors such as sea surface temperature and plankton availability strongly shape whale shark aggregations, making them highly sensitive to climate variability (Cárdenas-Palomo et al., 2015).
Conservation Challenges
Despite global admiration, whale sharks face mounting pressures. Key threats include:
Overfishing & Bycatch – Whale sharks are still targeted in some regions for their meat, fins, and oil. Others are accidentally entangled in nets.
Vessel Strikes – As surface dwellers, they are highly vulnerable to collision with ships.
Unregulated Tourism – Well-intentioned tourism can stress animals if boats, divers and snorkelers are unmanaged.
Climate Change – Shifts in plankton availability may starve populations.
Overlaying these ecological threats are human pressures. In areas such as Madagascar and the Maldives, local communities rely heavily on fisheries. When poverty, famine, or lack of alternatives drive fishing effort, conservation efforts risk failing unless people’s needs are also addressed (Bennett et al., 2019).
The Human Dimension: Conservation and Community
One of the most inspiring conservation models comes from the Madagascar Whale Shark Project, which partners with local fishermen and communities. Instead of enforcing top-down restrictions, the project builds trust and integrates conservation into livelihoods. Fishermen contribute to monitoring efforts, tourism provides income, and education campaigns raise awareness.
This approach recognises a simple but often overlooked truth: ignoring people leads to failed conservation. Projects that reduce poverty, provide tourism income, or build local education into their frameworks succeed more often than those that impose restrictions without alternatives (Bennett et al., 2019).
In short, whale shark conservation is about finding balance. Protecting biodiversity and supporting human wellbeing are not opposing goals; there are two sides of the same coin.
How Conservation Projects are Structured (Conservation Standards & MIRADI)
Behind the scenes, many conservation projects are designed using tools like MIRADI, a project management software based on the Conservation Standards. This framework structures work into clear blocks:
Targets – What species or ecosystems are being protected?
Threats – Direct and indirect risks (e.g., overfishing, poverty, climate change).
Strategies – The actions needed to mitigate threats.
Outcomes – The measurable results for biodiversity and human wellbeing.
For organisations, especially small or medium ones, bringing in certified project managers or third-party experts can make a huge difference. These professionals ensure that projects are viable, sustainable, and accountable.
For example, designing a whale shark monitoring programme in Madagascar might include:
Identifying threats (overfishing, vessel strikes).
Setting strategies (fisherman engagement, tourism codes of conduct).
Measuring outcomes (increased sightings, reduced bycatch, improved community income).
This structured approach creates transparency, helps secure funding, and ensures that conservation projects remain grounded in both ecological science and social reality.
Global Efforts & Success Stories
Whale shark protection is not confined to Madagascar. Around the world, communities are finding innovative ways to conserve these giants:
Mexico (Isla Holbox) – Responsible tourism brings in millions annually while funding protection.
Philippines (Donsol) – Community-led eco-tourism replaced hunting, providing sustainable income.
Maldives – Whale shark tourism in marine protected areas generates significant economic benefits, proving that well-managed eco-tourism can deliver both financial and conservation returns (Ziegler, Dearden & Rollins, 2018).
Seychelles – A hotspot for whale shark tourism, where regulations protect animals and generate eco-revenue.
Mozambique – Long-term monitoring has revealed worrying declines, but also informed marine protected area (MPA) design.
At the international level, whale sharks are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). These frameworks provide legal backing, but implementation on the ground depends heavily on local buy-in.
Adaptations & Climate Change
Whale sharks are built for warm tropical seas, but their physiology has limits. Research suggests they prefer surface waters of 21–30°C, but may dive to over 1,000 metres, possibly to forage or thermoregulate (Tyminski et al., 2015).
As oceans warm and currents shift, plankton distributions change. This affects whale sharks’ ability to find food and maintain energy balance. Migration corridors may lengthen, and some regions may lose seasonal aggregations entirely.
Conservation design must therefore be adaptable, integrating climate projections, genetic monitoring of populations, and dynamic protection zones that shift as species move. Flexibility, not rigidity, will define success in the Anthropocene.
As oceans warm and currents shift, plankton distributions change. This affects whale sharks’ ability to find food and maintain energy balance. Habitat studies in the Mexican Caribbean highlight how shifts in sea surface temperature and productivity drive whale shark aggregations, underlining the importance of adaptability in conservation planning (Cárdenas-Palomo et al., 2015).
Call to Action: How You Can Support
The conservation of whale sharks is not limited to scientists or NGOs; everyone has a role to play:
Students – Volunteer on conservation projects or contribute to citizen science through photo-ID catalogues.
Organisations – Invest in certified project managers to design more effective, accountable programmes.
The Public – Choose eco-tourism operators that follow codes of conduct, donate to NGOs, or raise awareness in creative ways (art, film, social media).
Most importantly: put your mark on these projects. Whether that means fundraising through a community event, creating an art piece inspired by whale sharks, or advocating for sustainable fishing policies, every effort counts. Conservation is strongest when it is collective.
To Conclude
Saving whale sharks means saving ecosystems, communities, and future opportunities. These gentle giants remind us that strength can be quiet, steady, and inclusive.
The vision for the future is clear: integrated conservation strategies where biodiversity thrives alongside human wellbeing. By valuing both, we stand a real chance of ensuring that the ocean’s gentle giants continue to roam our seas for generations to come.
Linking Blogs
Conserving wildlife while considering human wellbeing
Skills required to work in conservation
Strategies of adaptable and integrated conservation
Mitigation of human impact on wild animal welfare
Case study: A day in the life of a whale shark conservationist
References (Harvard Style)
Cárdenas-Palomo, N., Cuevas, E., De la Parra Venegas, R., Galván-Pastoriza, B., & Galván-Magaña, F., 2015. Habitat suitability and environmental factors affecting whale shark (Rhincodon typus) aggregations in the Mexican Caribbean. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 98(8), pp.1953–1967
Ziegler, J.A., Dearden, P., & Rollins, R., 2018. Visitation and economic impact of whale shark tourism in a Maldivian marine protected area. Tourism Management, 67, pp.49–58.