Jakarta (ANTARA) - An Indonesian research team has found that whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) migrate across at least 13 countries and international waters, underscoring the need for conservation strategies that go beyond local boundaries.

A press statement on Saturday revealed that the study, conducted by researchers from Konservasi Indonesia, the Elasmobranch Institute Indonesia, Universitas Indonesia, Universitas Diponegoro, and Conservation International, analyzed satellite tracking data from 2015–2025 covering 70 whale sharks at four major aggregation sites: Cenderawasih Bay (Central Papua), Kaimana (West Papua), Saleh Bay (West Nusa Tenggara), and Tomini Bay (Gorontalo).

“We now understand not only where whale sharks appear, but also how they move and what drives their movements. Management cannot be site‑based alone—it must consider the broader, interconnected marine ecosystem,” said Iqbal Herwata, Focal Species Conservation Senior Manager at Konservasi Indonesia, who led the study.

The findings show whale sharks shift between coastal areas and the open ocean, following food availability and environmental conditions.

Aggregation sites such as Saleh Bay serve as stable feeding grounds, while offshore waters act as migration corridors and opportunistic feeding areas.

Only a few locations, including Cenderawasih Bay and Saleh Bay, consistently supported whale sharks year‑round.

Researchers noted that most of the habitats used by whale sharks lie outside protected areas.

Their movements span Australia, Christmas Island, Timor Leste, the Gilbert Islands, Guam, Indonesia, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and the Solomon Islands, as well as high‑seas regions beyond national jurisdiction.

“Whale sharks use ocean dynamics like natural highways, with currents guiding their movements and certain areas functioning as ‘rest stops’ for feeding,” said Anindya Wirasatriya, Professor of Oceanography at Universitas Diponegoro and co‑author of the study.

The team emphasized that spatial data on migration routes and key habitats can inform risk mitigation—such as reducing bycatch, regulating shipping lanes to minimize collisions, and designing more sustainable marine tourism.