A new study looked at whale shark tourism at El Azul, a 400-square-kilometre site off the Yucatán coast. Researchers used drone footage from 2016 and 2022 to record boats, swimmers and sharks feeding at the surface. Whale sharks can be nearly 60 feet long and are easily disturbed.
Mexican rules limited each shark to one boat, allowed two swimmers and one guide in the water, and required people to stay five metres from the shark's head and tail. The team documented hundreds of rule violations, such as boats coming too close and swimmers touching sharks. The authors recommend better monitoring, stronger self-regulation by guides, and longer-term investment.
Difficult words
- footage — short video of an event or place
- disturb — to make someone nervous or change behaviourdisturbed
- violation — an action that breaks a rule or lawviolations
- monitoring — watching a place or activity over time
- self-regulation — people or groups making their own rules
- investment — money or time spent for future benefits
- guide — a person who helps or leads tourists
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think people may break the rules around whale sharks?
- Would you want to swim near a whale shark? Why or why not?
- How could guides help protect the sharks during tourist visits?
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