[5] Poverty incidence of Pilar Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] Though whale sharks are more associated with the town of Donsol, whale sharks can also be seen in Pilar Bay near San Antonio.

Interaction with the whale sharks is regulated by the local department office.

These include limiting the number of swimmers per boat, no scuba divers and staying further than three meters away from the sharks.

Increasing numbers of sharks show propeller marks on their backs.

Anecdotal evidence from local fishermen suggests that prop strikes are from fishing boats in the off-season, rather than from tourist boats in the main January–May tourist season.