Garrido, Verónica M. “Misguided Ecotourism May Lead to Changes in Whale Shark Behavior.” EL PAÍS English, 27 Sept. 2023, english.elpais.com/science-tech/2023-09-27/misguided-ecotourism-may-lead-to-changes-in-whale-shark-behavior.html.
The whale shark, the largest fish globally has become a popular tourist attraction. British biologist Joel Gayford’s study shows that human interaction affects the whale sharks’ behavior and environment. Gayford used drones to observe their environment and found that human presence led to prolonged disturbance and higher energy expenditure, which can disrupt habitat preferences and trigger trophic cascades, impacting entire ecosystems.
While whale sharks are harmless to humans, humans can greatly impact the whale shark’s environment. I agree with Gayford’s suggestion to put more regulations in place. Reducing tourism would reduce boat collisions and other negative effects. Collaboration between scientists and ecotourism operators is crucial for ensuring the safety of species and ecosystems
It is crazy to think that human presence can disrupt whale sharks so much that it can impact entire ecosystems. I agree that regulations should be put in place to reduce tourism in order to protect whale sharks and their local environments. Do you think the impacts on the ecosystem are all bad, or can they be good too?