Does provisioning for tourism harm whale sharks at Oslob? A review of the evidence and reply to Ziegler et al. (2018)

Abstract

Provisioning of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) for tourism at Oslob in the Philippines is a controversial issue. Recent studies that claim negative impacts of this industry on the ecology of whale sharks are characterised by a lack of baselines, limited methodological approaches and poor interpretation of results. They do not provide robust evidence for management or for advocacy that seeks to prevent provisioning. Furthermore, these studies cannot be used to draw conclusions about the ethics of tourists visiting Oslob or the motivations of the local people running the tourism operation.