A recent study published in Frontiers in Marine Science in August 2025 has revealed alarming findings about the condition of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) in the Bird’s Head Seascape (BHS), West Papua. The research found that more than three-quarters of identified whale sharks in the region bear injuries, most of them linked to human activities.
The study, conducted between 2010 and 2023, recorded 1,118 observations of 268 individual whale sharks across four key areas of BHS: Cenderawasih Bay, Kaimana, Raja Ampat, and Fakfak. Data showed that 76.9 percent of the sharks had visible scars or wounds.
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Injuries from Fishing Platforms
Most of the injuries were relatively minor, such as abrasions or scratches on the sharks’ backs. These are strongly suspected to result from contact with bagan—traditional fishing platforms, locally known as bagang in Papua. These platforms are commonly found in BHS and often attract whale sharks due to the abundance of small fish around them. However, this close interaction also poses significant risks to the world’s largest fish.
“Interaction with bagan appears to be the dominant cause of injuries among whale sharks in Bird’s Head Seascape. While these wounds may not always be fatal, they can have long-term health implications,” explained Edy Setyawan, one of the researchers.
Edy, from the Elasmobranch Institute Indonesia in Bali, noted that aside from minor wounds, researchers also documented severe injuries, including fin amputations, net scars, and deep body wounds. Such injuries are most likely related to fishing gear, large predators, or other destructive human activities.
Low Risk of Vessel Strikes
Interestingly, the study found that the risk of vessel strikes in BHS is relatively low. Only 2.4 percent of identified whale sharks showed signs of boat-related injuries. This figure is far lower than in other famous whale shark tourism hotspots—such as Cebu, Philippines, where 47 percent of individuals bear boat-strike scars, or Holbox Island, Mexico, where the figure reaches 33 percent.
This contrast highlights that the primary threats to whale sharks in West Papua differ from those in other ecotourism destinations. While boat traffic poses the main danger in Cebu or Holbox, in BHS the risks stem more from direct interactions with traditional fishing activities.
Urgent Need for Conservation
The researchers stressed the urgent need for conservation measures to protect whale sharks in this region. Recommendations include redesigning bagan structures to be more wildlife-friendly and enforcing strict codes of conduct for marine tourism around whale shark aggregation sites shared by both fishermen and tourists.
Bird’s Head Seascape is recognized as one of the world’s most important habitats for juvenile whale sharks. Most individuals recorded in the study were young males, ranging from 2 to 8 meters in length. The region plays a crucial role in their growth before they migrate to other waters to reproduce.
“BHS is a critical point in the whale shark’s life cycle in the Indo-Pacific. Ensuring their health during this juvenile phase is essential for the survival of the global population,” Edy wrote in the report.
With these findings, Bird’s Head Seascape reaffirms its status as an area of global significance—not only as a world-class marine tourism destination but also as a vital sanctuary for whale shark survival. Without concrete conservation action, the scars now visible on these gentle giants may become enduring symbols of a greater threat to the future of the species. (Wage Erlangga)
