FISHERMEN have used cranes to haul a giant whale shark out of the water in the Pakistan city of Karachi.

Pictures emerged today of the monster whale shark being reeled in from the Arabian Sea and brought to port.

Crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of the beast - believed to be one of the biggest ever caught - as it was hauled out of the water at Charai Fishery, the Daily Mail reports.

media_camera Whale shark

The monster whale shark is actually a gentle giant. Picture: AP

Two cranes were brought in to pull the eight-tonne shark's carcass out. But that failed, so eventually another crane was brought in to complete the task.

The shark was spotted floating unconscious in the sea 10 days ago, about 140km offshore.

The shark sold for 1.7m rupees ($A17,500).

The largest confirmed whale shark was 12.5m long but it is thought they can grow to considerably greater lengths.

media_camera The whale shark was found floating unconscious in the Arabian Sea.

Fishermen work to get the whale shark out of the sea. Picture: AFP

The shark is found in tropical waters and lives for about 70 years. They feed mainly on plankton, microscopic plants and sometimes small fish.

The whale shark, a gentle giant of the seas, does not pose a significant danger to humans - and in the past some have even allowed swimmers to hitch a ride on their fins

Originally published as Cranes lift monster whale shark