Warming Oceans Threaten Whale Sharks with Increased Ship Collisions

Climate change may force whale sharks into busy shipping lanes, heightening risks of fatal encounters.

A new study predicts that by 2100, whale sharks could be 15,000 times more likely to encounter ships due to habitat shifts caused by global warming.
Researchers used satellite tracking data and climate models to forecast whale shark movements under various climate scenarios.
High emission scenarios could lead to significant core habitat losses for whale sharks, particularly in Asian waters.
The study highlights the importance of mitigating climate change to lessen indirect impacts on marine species like whale sharks.
Recommendations to protect whale sharks include slowing ship speeds, re-routing around key habitats, and implementing collision-reporting networks.