Does the whale shark aggregate along the Western Australian coastline beyond Ningaloo Reef?

Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) exhibit seasonal migrations along the Western Australian coastline beyond Ningaloo Reef, challenging the notion that their aggregations are limited to this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Satellite tracking of 14 tagged whale sharks revealed that these marine giants travel an average of 1667 km (±316 km) from Ningaloo Reef during spring and summer, inhabiting most of the Western Australian coast (from 35°S to 12°S). This finding suggests that their movements may be linked to areas of increased productivity beyond Ningaloo, potentially involving migrations north or south. The study combined satellite tracking with public sightings, historical data, and photo-identification to map whale shark distributions, providing critical insights into their broader range and behavior.

Norman, B. M., Reynolds, S., & Morgan, D. L. (2016). Does the whale shark aggregate along the Western Australian coastline beyond Ningaloo Reef? Pacific Conservation Biology, 22(1), 72–80. https://doi.org/10.1071/pc15045