Whale sharks face conservation threats from vessel strikes, fishing bycatch, and tourism pressure, with welfare implications for these slow-reproducing giants.
Whale shark welfare in the wild is threatened by vessel strike risk and bycatch entanglement — injuries that cause prolonged suffering and death in the ocean. Tourist interactions, when well-managed with observation-only protocols, have lower welfare impact. Aquarium keeping of whale sharks is deeply controversial: these migratory animals cover thousands of kilometres annually, and even the largest aquarium facilities provide a fraction of their natural range requirement. The Georgia Aquarium and similar facilities face persistent welfare criticism for this practice.