These Filipino fishermen are protecting endangered sharks - and boosting their incomes

Sep 4, 2019

A whale shark approaches a feeder boat off the beach of Tan-awan, Oslob, in the southern Philippines island of Cebu March 1, 2013. Tan-awan, in the southern Philippines island of Cebu, used to be a sleepy village that never saw tourists unless they were lost or in transit. Yet now they flock there by the hundreds - to swim with whale sharks, the world's largest fish. Whale sharks are lured to the Tan-awan coastline of the Oslob district by fishermen who hand feed them small shrimp, drawing divers and snorkelers to see the highly sought-after animals, known as gentle giants of the sea. But the practice has sparked fierce debate on the internet and among biologists, who decry it as unnatural. Picture taken March 1, 2013. REUTERS/David Loh (PHILIPPINES - Tags: ANIMALS ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)ATTENTION EDITORS: PICTURE 9 OF 25 FOR PACKAGE 'THE WHALE SHARK FEEDERS'SEARCH 'WHALE LOH' FOR ALL IMAGES - GM1E93C175B01

A whale shark approaches a feeder boat off the beach of Tan-awan, Oslob. Image: REUTERS/David Loh

Judi Lowe

PhD Candidate, Southern Cross University

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Luigi Borromeo Image: A drone shot of whale shark tourism, about 100 metres from shore. The small boats with one person are feeders. The longer boats are for the tourists swimming with face masks to see the whale sharks.

Whale sharks come close to the coast to feed on krill. Image: Andre Snoopy Montenegro

Former fisherman Jesson Jumaud with his daughter Kheny May, who now goes to school. The profits of whale shark tourism mean they now have a brick house, and Jesson was able to buy a motor bike. He can feed their family three times a day with good food Image: Judi Lowe

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