Assessing tourism compliance challenges at one of the largest whale shark aggregation sites in the world

Abstract

Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) tourism is a growing industry, particularly at “El Azul” off the Yucatán coast of Mexico, one of the largest known whale shark aggregation sites. Using aerial video footage acquired during unmanned aerial vehicle surveys in August 2016 and August 2022, this study assessed the frequency of regulatory violations of tour boat operators and clientele in proximity to whale sharks and the factors affecting non-compliance. The frequency of non-compliance incidents was driven by the number of boats, swimmers, and whale sharks present; as these numbers increased, so did the frequency of violations. We observed a high frequency of non-compliance by boats and swimmers even when the number of boats was far below the regulatory limit of 120 boats permitted for whale shark activities. The presence of a patrol boat had limited effectiveness in reducing the frequency of non-compliance activities. Our results demonstrate that the existing 120-boat limit and periodic enforcement are inadequate to ensure compliance, underscoring the need for stronger management measures. Additional ecological and social research are needed to develop more robust compliance and enforcement strategies for promoting responsible whale shark tourism, ensuring its long-term sustainability, and conserving whale shark populations in the Mexican Caribbean.