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Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus)

The Whale Shark is a pelagic shark known in Australia mainly from northern Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland, with scattered records in New South Wales, Victoria and the western Great Australian Bight. It uses continental shelf and offshore waters, and may also come close inshore.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Vulnerable.

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Listed migratory. Listed migratory species are a matter of national environmental significance, so a significant impact needs referral.

Seasonal planning

Whale sharks aggregate at Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia from March to July, with March and April noted as good months for close encounters.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Present at Ningaloo Reef: Whale sharks aggregate at Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia from March to July, with March and April noted as good months for close encounters.

Identification: Appearance

The Whale Shark has a broad, flat head, a short snout and a large terminal mouth. Its dark back has a distinctive pattern of pale spots and stripes, with prominent ridges along the upper flanks.

The Whale Shark has a broad, flat head, a short snout and a large terminal mouth. Its dark back has a distinctive pattern of pale spots and stripes, with prominent ridges along the upper flanks.

Identification: Confirming identity

Confirm the identity of any suspected record with a specialist and a photograph or voucher, as required by the relevant permit.

Distribution: Known range

In Australia, it is known primarily from northern Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland, with scattered records in New South Wales, Victoria and the western Great Australian Bight. Worldwide, it occurs in tropical and warm-temperate seas, apart from the Mediterranean.

In Australia, it is known primarily from northern Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland, with scattered records in New South Wales, Victoria and the western Great Australian Bight. Worldwide, it occurs in tropical and warm-temperate seas, apart from the Mediterranean.

Distribution: National mapping

The Commonwealth species distribution model (SNES) maps where the species or its habitat is known, likely or may occur. Use it with local records and site inspection.

Habitat: Habitat

The Whale Shark is pelagic and occurs in continental shelf and offshore waters. It may also occur close inshore, including around lagoons and coral reefs, and is associated with areas of high plankton productivity.

The Whale Shark is pelagic and occurs in continental shelf and offshore waters. It may also occur close inshore, including around lagoons and coral reefs, and is associated with areas of high plankton productivity.

Foraging habitat: Diet

It filter feeds on plankton and small animals, including invertebrate larvae, fish spawn, krill, copepods and small fish. Its prey can also include squid and, occasionally, larger fish.

It filter feeds on plankton and small animals, including invertebrate larvae, fish spawn, krill, copepods and small fish. Its prey can also include squid and, occasionally, larger fish.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

The Whale Shark is ovoviviparous. Its breeding behaviour is described as unknown.

The Whale Shark is ovoviviparous. Its breeding behaviour is described as unknown.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Threats: Threats

The species is vulnerable to commercial fishing, with its slow maturation, low abundance and highly migratory nature contributing to that vulnerability. It is also described as vulnerable to over-exploitation.

The species is vulnerable to commercial fishing, with its slow maturation, low abundance and highly migratory nature contributing to that vulnerability. It is also described as vulnerable to over-exploitation.

Survey methodology: 1. Species-specific methods

Use methods consistent with the Commonwealth survey guidelines and engage a specialist with the right permits.

Tagging and photo-identification have been used to study individual movements and visits to feeding sites.

Survey methodology: 2. Commonwealth guidance

For EPBC Act referrals, survey effort and methods should be consistent with the survey guidelines for Australia's threatened fish, read with the Significant impact guidelines 1.1.

Survey methodology: 3. Limits

A non-detection is not proof of absence. Match survey timing to the species and season, and record effort.

Vegetation associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific vegetation association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Ecosystem associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific ecosystem association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Soil and substrate associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific soil association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Water and wetland associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific water association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Fauna records and mapped habitat: Not yet analysed

Record locations can be overlaid with mapping, but record frequency alone does not measure habitat preference. No species is excluded from desktop assessments by this analysis.

No quality-controlled record-to-map analysis has been completed for this species. The existing generalised distribution dots and indicative range polygons have not been treated as precise occurrence coordinates.

A defensible run needs dated, independently attributable records, coordinate uncertainty, duplicate and captive-record checks, layer versions and regional scope. Preference and absence require additional survey-effort and detection evidence.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: No supported exclusion recorded

Not recorded is not the same as cannot occur. Low suitability, resident habitat, breeding habitat and occasional movement are different conclusions.

This library has not established a vegetation, ecosystem or soil-type exclusion for this species. This does not mean all habitat is suitable; the evidence needed to justify an exclusion has not been assembled.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: Before using a negative association

  • Confirm the taxon, geographic region, life stage and habitat function covered by the evidence.
  • Check survey methods, season, repeated effort and detectability before interpreting non-detection.
  • Investigate credible contradictory records and microhabitats absent from broad mapping.
  • Do not convert a missing map class, low record count or failed data request into species absence.

Before disturbance: 1. Desktop and approvals

Confirm whether the project could affect the species before works begin.

Check national mapping, state records and recent surveys for the site. An action likely to have a significant impact on this nationally listed species needs EPBC Act referral, and state permits apply where it is state listed.

Before disturbance: 2. Plan to avoid

Plan in-water works, vessel movements and lighting to avoid known habitat and sensitive periods, and set observer and shutdown procedures before works start.

During disturbance: 1. Controls

Keep works inside the approved footprint and conditions.

Use spotters and exclusion zones for in-water works and vessels, and pause works if the species is seen within the zone.

During disturbance: 2. Stop and report

If the species is found unexpectedly, stop work at that spot and contact the project ecologist and the relevant agency.

After disturbance: 1. Records

Record outcomes.

Record sightings, habitat lost or retained and any injury or death, and report them under the approval conditions.

Rehabilitation: 1. Restore

Restore disturbed habitat where possible.

Remove temporary structures, restore natural flow and substrate, and monitor water quality until it returns to baseline.

Sources