How Technology Is Helping Save the Whale Shark

The whale shark is the largest fish in the ocean: over 30 tonnes and up to 20 meters long. Despite its size, it's been consistently threatened by boat strikes, illegal fishing, and pollution, particularly in the Bay of La Paz.

A partnership between WWF, Fundación Telmex, and Telcel has changed that. Using GPS tracking on all tour boats operating in the bay, authorities can now monitor vessel speed in real time and ensure boats stay out of the whale shark's habitat. Speeds are capped at 7 knots in the viewing zone.

All guides and boat captains in the area are now certified, and a voluntary fee program funds water patrols. Photo identification technology, in use since 2003, tracks individual sharks year over year, recording sex, age, and whether females are pregnant.

The results are measurable. In the 2018–2019 season, 46% of identified sharks showed boat-related injuries, down from 67% in 2016–2017. The program is still developing, and the goal is to keep pushing that number lower.

International Whale Shark Day falls on August 30, a reminder that responsible tourism and conservation can work together. The Riviera Maya is one of the best places in the world to swim alongside whale sharks, and the same principles of responsible wildlife tourism apply here.