This gentle giant, the largest fish on Earth, is a member of the shark family and can grow up to 12 meters long. They are a slow growing species and if they make it to adulthood can live up to 150 years. Whale sharks are filter feeders, have long migration routes and are typically slow moving. These facts coupled with the current devastating rate of commercial fishing, make whale sharks prone to bycatch and are quickly becoming endangered. They are also caught for their fins, oil, and meat like other sharks.  There is still a lot that is unknown about whale sharks. It would be extremely unfortunate to lose this graceful creature from our oceans.