Jan

Fishers save three whale sharks caught in fishing nets in Thiruvanathapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, 22 January 2026: Local fishers in Thiruvananthapuram, in collaboration with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) team, successfully rescued and released three whale sharks that had been accidentally entangled in shore-seine fishing nets at different locations along the coast.

The rescue operations took place within hours of each other on Thursday morning at Kochuthoppu, Vettucaud, and Kochuvelli. The whale sharks, two males and one female, measured approximately 12 feet, 16 feet, and 20 feet in length. With these latest efforts, fishers along Kerala’s coast have now helped save the lives of a total of 54 whale sharks.

The whale shark (Rhincodon typus), the world’s largest fish, can grow up to 18 metres in length and weigh as much as 21 metric tonnes. Known for their massive size, distinctive spotted patterns, and wide mouths used for filter feeding, these gentle giants inhabit tropical and warm-temperate oceans. Despite their wide distribution, whale sharks face serious threats, including habitat degradation, accidental bycatch, and illegal fishing.

Sajan John, Coordinator-Marine Projects, WTI, said, “Whale sharks are an endangered migratory species that visit the Arabian Sea coast of India between October and March. As they often come close to the shore, entanglement in fishing nets has become increasingly common. The combined efforts of fishers, government departments, students, and environmentally conscious communities are crucial for ensuring the survival of these gentle giants.”

Thiruvananthapuram is well known for shore-seine fishing, and accidental entanglement of whale sharks has been a regular occurrence between November and March. Since 2017, WTI has been actively engaging with fishers under its Pan-India Whale Shark Conservation Project to address situations like these and raise awareness among local communities.

“This is the first recorded instance that three whale sharks were rescued on the same day from different locations in Thiruvananthapuram” explained Ajith Kumar, Field Attendant, WTI. Ajith, who is also a fisherman, added that such accidental entanglements may increase with the onset of whale shark migration season.

The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), in collaboration with the Kerala Forest Department, launched the Pan-India Whale Shark Conservation in 2017 along the Kerala and Lakshadweep coast to raise awareness and promote conservation of the species. The campaign focuses on educating fishing communities, encouraging sustainable fishing practices, and strengthening rescue response mechanisms. The project has also been active for the past two decades along the coast of Gujarat. Overall, more than 1,000 whale sharks have been voluntarily rescued and released back into the ocean by local fishers.