The whale sharks in the waters of the Maldives measure up to 20ft. These gentle giants of the ocean are the largest fish alive on our planet today, feeding on tiny plankton. In the South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA) in the Maldives, they’re visible on dives and snorkelling trips; their enormous bodies dwarfing the intrepid travellers who swim alongside them in awe.
This area is home to one of only three year-round aggregations of whale sharks in the world, and in this one Maldives site alone, whale sharks directly generate $9.4 million per year in tourism revenue (according to a 2014 paper. That figure is likely to be higher today). But these magnificent animals are under threat, in part because of a minority of reckless tourist operators – who redirect, block, frighten or even accidentally cut sharks with loud, fast speedboats.
The Be Gentle With Giants campaign is a new initiative, launched this month by several marine conservation NGOs who work in the Maldives, asking tourist operators to follow a code of conduct around these beautiful animals – and asking travellers to favour responsible operators flying the #BeGentleToGiants flag.
Ruth Franklin, founder of the local tour operator Secret Paradise Maldives, is one such person. “This campaign won’t be a silver bullet solution, but it will provide a necessary policy push, in order that regulations for all tourism stakeholders are put into place and monitored,” she says.