Since2011,fishersinOslobhavetakenmorethan750,000 touristsoutintothewaterstoseewhalesharksupclose.Touristssaytheygetathrilling,once-in-a-lifetimeexperience.Thefishersclaimthatthisindustryhelpsthembettertakecareoftheirfamilies.Thesharksshowupbecausethefishersfeedthemeveryday.Manypeoplethinkthisadventureisharmlessforthesharks.And,itbenefitslocalpeople.Othersthinkthepracticedisruptsthesharks’naturalbehaviors.Theythinkitmayhurttheirwell‑being.Whoisright?That’satoughone.Therearetwosidestothis story.
ThisisaviewoftheSumilonIslandbeachlandingnear Oslob.
Aguidefeedsawhalesharktoattract tourists.
ForWhaleSharkTourism
ImprovingLives
Beforewhalesharktourism,localpeopleearnedabout$1.40adaybyfishing.Itwasn’tenoughtoputfoodonthetableorsendtheirchildrentoschool.Allthatchangedafteratouristofferedtopayoneofthefisherstoseeawhalesharkup close.
Fromthatonetouristsprangadivecompanythatattractedmorevisitors.Thiswhaleshark-viewingbusinessearnedmorethan$18 millioninitsfirstfiveyears.Now,localssaytheyhavemoremoneytoprovidefortheirfamilies,and10 percentoftheprofitshelpsupportthelocal village.
Theindustryalsogives30 percentofitsprofitstosurroundingtowns.Resortsandotherplacestostayhavepoppedup.Manypeoplesellfoodandsouvenirsto tourists.
Theguidesclaimthatfeedingwhalesharksisgoodforallfish.Fewerpeopleneedtofishtomakealiving.Andthewhalesharksarelesslikelytobekilledfortheirfins,sincepeopleinthisareahaveaninterestintheirsurvival.Tourismalsoraisesawarenessaboutwhalesharksasanendangeredspecies.Thiscouldhelpwhalesharksinotherpartsofthe world.
Signspointthewaytowhaleshark watching.
Touristsswimwithawhale shark.