Whale sharks attract significant ecotourism activity, with welfare implications from boat strikes, snorkeler interactions, and feeding that modify natural behavior at aggregation sites.
Whale shark ecotourism ranges from well-managed wildlife observation to poorly managed harassment. Sites with strict codes of conduct — no touching, minimum distances, limited simultaneous swimmers, no flash photography — provide observation experiences that appear to cause minimal welfare impact. Sites using artificial feeding to retain sharks for tourist access alter natural feeding behavior and may create dependency. Boat strike prevention through speed management and exclusion zones at aggregation sites directly reduces trauma welfare harm. Well-managed whale shark ecotourism can fund conservation, but only if welfare standards are meaningful and enforced.