Whales Sharks Receive New Protections from Tuna Fishing

Whale sharks are some of the largest living fish in the world and now, they may be getting a little help. The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) adopted a resolution that prohibits the placement of a purse seine net around whale sharks.

Whale sharks are huge, weighing up to 40,000 pounds and 40 feet in length. While they're large, though, these fish are docile enough that humans can swim with them with little concern. Yet commercial fishermen have known for some time that whale sharks are so large that they can attract tuna beneath them, which are naturally attracted to large, floating structures. This means that they will sometimes target whale sharks and deploy a net around them to get at the tuna beneath them. Many times, the whale shark is also caught in the net and injured or killed.

With the new regulation, though, whale sharks are required to be released unharmed in the event that they are inadvertently encircled by a net. While setting on whale sharks is not a method used by U.S. tuna fishing vessels, NOAA Fisheries issued regulations in September prohibiting the practice by the U.S. fleet operating in the EPO.

"These are some of the most incredible animals in the ocean, and while U.S. fishing vessels don't engage in this practice, we are very supportive of this international resolution to help protect these amazing creatures," said Chris Fanning, a fishery policy analyst, in a news release.

With these new practices, whale sharks could be a bit safer in the future. That said, the animals will still need to be monitored in the future.

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