Countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines are areas that are part of the coral triangle, where coral reefs are abundant and flourishing. These are also the areas that are home to the whale sharks, amongst a diversity of many other species of marine creatures. Governments of countries within the coral triangle are highly invested in creating an environment suitable for sustainable coastal and marine resource management, and they place boundaries on fishing and economic development on countries within the coastal zone. At the same time, they also enforce laws in cases of fishing without permits, or overfishing.

Here are some laws that have been put in place for the conservation of whale sharks:

  1. MALAYSIA
    Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): 
    States that reading of endangered plants and animals (which includes whale sharks) are completely banned. Trading of their parts are also banned, except in rare cases of scientific research.
    Fisheries Act of 1985:
    An Act relating to fisheries, including the conservation, management and development of maritime and estuarine fishing and fisheries, in Malaysian fisheries waters, to turtles and riverine fishing in Malaysia and to matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
    Fisheries (Control of Endangered Species) Regulation of 1999:
    The prohibition of fishing, disturbing, harassing, catching, killing, taking, possessing, transporting as well as exports and trade of the endangered fish species defined by the schedule attached.
  2. INDONESIA
    CITES
    Ratification of CITES into a Presidential Decree (No. 43/1978) 
  3. THE PHILIPPINES
    CITES
    Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources FAO 193:
    States that it is unlawful to take or catch whale shark and manta rays in Philippine waters or to sell, purchase, possess, transport, or export the same whether dead or alive, in any state or form whether raw or processed. It shall likewise, be unlawful to wound or to kill whale shark and manta rays in the course of catching other species of fish.
    Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 (RA 8550):
    An Act providing for the development, management, and conservation of fisheries and aquatic resources, integrating all laws pertinent thereto, and for other purposes. More about this can be read here.
    Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (RA 9147):
    The Act provides for the conservation, preservation and protection of wildlife species and their habitats, in order to preserve and encourage ecological balance and biological diversity; it provides, furthermore, for the control and supervision of wildlife capture, hunting and trade; finally it provides for supporting and promote scientific research on the protection of biodiversity. The provisions of this Act shall apply to all wildlife species overall, including those living in the protected areas.