According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the whale shark died from blunt force trauma, likely due to a boat collision. The necropsy performed on the shark revealed internal hemorrhaging and bruising, consistent with injuries caused by a collision with a vessel.
Red tide is a harmful algal bloom caused by a microscopic algae called Karenia brevis. While red tide can cause respiratory irritation, gastrointestinal issues, and neurological problems in humans and marine life, it is not typically associated with the deaths of large marine mammals like whale sharks.
