As Whale Sharks are an endangered species (more on that here) and their numbers are in decline, it is truly sad to hear of stories like this. After reading this article I was even more depressed to find that the authors did not even do enough research to point out that this species is endangered or that anything is done to help educate the public.
In fact they posted the article as if it was a great thing that these guys caught such a thing.

The following story is from Penang, Malaysia. So this could easily have been one the Whale sharks that just left this area, or was on it's way up here.

Whale of a catch for deep-sea fishermen

By ANDREA FILMER

GEORGE TOWN: Four fishermen had a huge New Year’s surprise when an unexpected visitor swam into their nets, 10 nautical miles off the coast of Teluk Bahang.

The group was deep-sea fishing near Pulau Kendi when a 7m-long whale shark got entangled in their trawl nets at 3am yesterday.

“We didn’t know what was in the net, so two of us pulled it up and saw the shark.

“In my 30 years of being a fisherman, I have never seen this. I didn’t even know what species it was,” said fisherman Keh Chai Yang, 52.

Big catch: Villagers gathering around a whale shark at the Teluk Bahang beach in Penang Friday, The shark got entangled in a fishing net some 10 nautical miles offshore. — ZAINUDIN AHAD / The Star

They returned to shore with the shark at 5.30am.

Keh said they had informed the state Department of Fisheries of the two-tonne whale shark and would surrender the fish to them.

The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is a filter feeding shark that is the largest living fish.

The slow-moving creature is known for its playful character and poses no harm to humans.

Don't eat Shark Fin soup - if it's on the menu, leave the restaurant.