Communities in conservation: protecting India’s whale sharks

The results so far are promising. Across Kerala, 257 awareness sessions have reached more than 204,000 fishers and over 100,000 children. Fishers have safely released dozens of entangled whale sharks and policy frameworks are helping to build long-term conservation strategies. Fishers who once viewed whale sharks as bycatch or a burden are now recognised as conservation heroes, cutting their nets to release the animals safely and contributing valuable sighting data.

On International Whale Shark Day 2025, the project expanded to Goa, where the state government announced a compensation of INR 75,000 for fishers who cut their nets to safely release protected species-particularly whale sharks, which are listed under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

The release of the 20-year report marks the beginning of a new chapter-one that moves from reactive conservation to proactive protection of ocean ecosystems. It offers a clear opportunity to replicate and scale proven strategies from Gujarat and Kerala to other coastal states, to anticipate and mitigate threats like climate-driven habitat shifts, and to strengthen nationwide efforts to protect whale sharks and other marine life.

By empowering communities with better tools, building knowledge through science, and placing ocean biodiversity at the heart of national conversations, whale shark conservation is becoming a model for marine resilience-one that delivers impact for wildlife and people alike.