Photo of the day

Happy International Whale Shark Day! Despite being the largest fish on the planet, whale sharks are one of the most gentle creatures in the sea. Measuring up to 40 feet long and weighing in at around 15 to 20 tons, an adult whale shark will grow to around the same size as a city bus and spend most of its time in the pelagic zone of the open ocean. Today, only 1.2% of the open ocean, also known as the High Seas, has been designated as marine protected areas (MPAs), leaving pelagic marine life such as whale sharks vulnerable and unprotected. Nearly 80,000 people have signed our petition calling for a strong High Seas treaty — a new United Nations agreement that would ensure meaningful protection of this great global commons.