Whale sharks face pressures from fishing, boat strikes, and irresponsible tourism; as the world's largest fish, their conservation is tied to healthy ocean ecosystems.
Whale sharks at popular ecotourism sites face repeated human disturbance including touching, riding, and boat harassment. Stress responses include dive behavior changes and site avoidance. Responsible tourism with certified operators using distance rules and no-touch protocols allows economic benefit without compromising individual whale shark welfare.