Swimming with whale sharks is a popular bucket list experience but does it get an ethical tick of approval? It does for Australian whale shark tour operators.
The study by Murdoch University used biotelemetry – or in other words they tracked the whale sharks using fancy Fitbits.
They showed that people swimming with whale sharks have minimal impact on their behaviour.
The regulations followed by the Australian whale shark industry contrasts sharply with those in other countries.
“… overcrowding, non-compliance with rules prohibiting close-proximity and touching the shark results in a much greater impact.“
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So, if you want to swim with a whale shark, Australia is the place to do it!
Source: PhysOrg 1 March 2024
