Annex 1 CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FAUNA

impact. Basic problems for the whale shark include: · Low numbers. There is evidence of relatively low numbers of whale sharks locally and presumably worldwide, from spotting and counting at whale shark observation sites and aerial surveys in limited areas. · Biological limits. There is evidence that whale sharks have exceptionally great longevity, low reproductive potential, and long maturation times, which raises the question of whether they should be fished at all and suggests that ecotouristic viewing needs to be conducted with great caution. · Behavior and habitat. There is evidence that whale sharks are a priori vulnerable by their behavior and habitat. Whale sharks are highly migratory, may form a single population as indicated by genetic studies, often frequent the surface, are very big (the world’s largest fish) and obvious, are relatively slow swimmers, often travel in coastal areas and visit specific reef sites on coasts and off islands to feed and possibly breed, and are relatively easy to catch and kill using a variety of fishing gear and relatively small fishing boats. · Bycatch and incidental human impacts. There is evidence that whale sharks are vulnerable to bycatch fisheries and other human factors past and present, with unknown mortality from ramming by ships and from large drif