Direct exposure that forges a connection with wildlife can drive
concern for sharks and motivate pro-conservation actions. The
relationship between knowledge gained and positive attitude
formation reinforces the importance of quality interpretation
and education programs that include environmentally positive
themes. It is vital that a message of appreciation and conservation
is contained within the narrative of cage-diving tours.
Overall, our research demonstrated that these experiences do
more than simply entertain. The success of shark-based tourism
suggests that human aspirations to interact with this species are
unlikely to subside in the foreseeable future. Exposing humans
to sharks through well-structured interpretation programs
gives shark-based tourism considerable potential to support
and develop future white shark conservation efforts. But while
a growing faction may support shark conservation, negative
attitudes driven by fear still exist, and the current threat to
global shark populations requires immediate attention. It may
well be that the positive tales tourists share with friends and
family after a cage-diving tour are the only uplifting first-hand
shark experiences people hear. On beaches around Australia,
the sometimes-testy interplay between sharks and tourists
contributes to the white shark’s notoriety; nevertheless, tourists
are in a crucial position to be part of the solution.
READING Apps K, Dimmock K, Lloyd D, Huveneers C. 2016. In the water with
white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias): participants’ beliefs toward cage-diving in
Australia. Anthrozoös, 29.2:231–245 Apps K, Dimmock K, Lloyd DJ, Huveneers C.
- Is there a place for education and interpretation in shark-based tourism?. Tourism
Recreation Research. 1–ß17 Ballantyne R, Packer J, Hughes K. 2009. Tourists’
support for conservation messages and sustainable management practices in wildlife
tourism experiences. Tourism Management 30(5):658–664. Cisneros-Montemayor
AM, Barnes-Mauthe M, Al-Abdulrazzak D, Navarro-Holm E, Sumaila UR. 2013. Global
economic value of shark ecotourism: implications for conservation. Oryx, 47(03):381– - Dulvy, NK, et al. 2014. Extinction risk and conservation of the world’s sharks
and rays. Elife 3, p.e00590. Lück M. 2015. Education on marine mammal tours–But
what do tourists want to learn? Ocean & Coastal Management 103:25–33.
KIRIN APPS completed a Bachelor of Marine Science and
Management (Hons) at Southern Cross University in 2013. She is
a qualified dive master and has a strong passion for sharks and the
marine environment, with a special interest in marine protected areas. She
is currently in the final year of a PhD focusing on the participant experience
of white shark tourism in Australia. She is also employed as a tutor in the
Science in Society and Protected Area Management courses at Southern
Cross University.White sharks are ovoviviparous, so
pups grow inside an egg that then
hatches inside the mother. Pups are
approximately 1.5 m in length and weigh
35 kg at birth. While in utero, they
practise oophaghy, which means the
hatched pups feed on their mother’s
unfertilised eggs while still in the womb.FAST FACTSCage-dives are sometimes used
to allow researchers close enough
to tag sharks with
tracking devices that
monitor their
movements.
Photo:
Simon PhelpsUS & THEM
One non-invasive way to identify sharks
is using photo ID databases that log
and compare distinct features such as
fin shape or specific markings. In 2005,
researchers developed an algorithm
to identify whale sharks based on
each shark’s unique spotted markings,
enabling citizen scientists to upload
holiday snaps and help track whale shark
movements. Marine biologists hope
to use similar automated programs to
identify individual white sharks from
photographs taken during cage-diving.
Photo: George Probst
Wildlife Australia | 9