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WHALE SHARKS
Beautiful, enigmatic and enormous. The whale shark is one of our oceans most iconic creatures and to swim with one is a dream experience for many.
But sadly their placid nature also puts whale sharks at risk.
If not properly managed, tourist encounters can have a negative impact on whale sharks and the experience for the tourist can fall below expectations.
We have been working with The Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP) since 2017. The MWSRP wanted to help the whale shark industry in the Maldives become more sustainable by working with government, tour operators and tourists to foster a more responsible, less harmful approach.
The more we explored the issues, the more we realised the common problems were shared across whale shark regions and that increasing tourist awareness of these issues globally, could be a key piece of the puzzle.
This project proposes to respond to a pressing need for code of conduct videos that inform whale shark tourists and support responsible tour operators.
We have created code of conduct films for several regions that use beautiful footage and simple messaging to illustrate what a whale shark encounter should look like and how tourists and tour operators can work together to achieve this.
We provide each location with multiple versions of the films, designed to suit specific audience needs.
“Point of Booking” - Full version - designed to give a comprehensive overview of whale sharks in that location and explain the code of conduct before travelling.
“On Boat” - Short version - slightly shorter than the Point of Booking version, to be shown to people on the boat just before they start their encounter.
Subtitles/foreign language versions - we also provide the films in the relevant formats for the most common language spoken by the each country’s residents and tourists.
Through partnering with local NGOs and seeking support from reputable brands our aim is to create dedicated films for distribution in all whale shark tourism hotspots around the world, driving positive change within the industry and creating a lasting impact.
These films are distributed for free and for all (local tour operators, guests houses, hotels and travel agencies) to help educate and create a truly sustainable tourism industry.
With its distinctive spots and stripes and enormous size, the whale shark is a majestic and unmistakeable creature.
Our enthusiasm for swimming with these creatures has far exceeded our awareness of how to do so responsibly.
So, how should you swim with whale sharks?
After much consultation with local NGOs in each region we came up with a code of conduct that people should follow during a whale shark encounter to mitigate their impact on the shark.
This varies slightly in each region but, they can be distilled down to 4 main principles.
Our partners play an integral role in our progress and impact around the world and are recognised for making significant contributions to the future of our oceans.
If you are interested in knowing more about the Maldives campaign and would like to join us as a campaign partner, please reach out to:
network@maldiveswhalesharkresearch.org