An UK charity named Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP)

has conducted research in the Maldives since 2006.

Since 2008, they started a tagging project to moniter the whale sharks.

MWSP has expressed concern over lax tourism restriction rules which allow unregulated diving boats to visit the Marine Protected Area.

On the other hand, some local divers were unsatisfied by the methodolgy used by MWSP, claiming that the number of sharks has decreased.

Some accuse the MWSP for fostering tourist growth and consequent damage of the environment. MWSP argues that the revenue generated from tourism will be used to help protect the marine animals and obtain protective status for them.

Source: http://www.bluepeacemaldives.org/blog/biodiversity/divers-concerned-whale-shark-research