Whale Shark

Photo: Rafael de la Parra · CC BY-NC

Whale sharks gather here in numbers unmatched anywhere else on Earth, drawn by the mass spawning of little tunny and other pelagic fish that creates protein-dense slicks across the surface. Individual sharks have been photo-identified returning year after year, establishing this as a critical seasonal feeding ground within the broader Gulf of Mexico population. Mature females and sub-adults both attend, making this site essential for understanding reproductive aggregation behaviour.