FEATURE SAVING SHARKS
By: Shark BusinessMaking Shark Conservation Profitable
Shark Business is a new project that
plans to use the economic value of
marine ecotourism to help preserve
shark populations. Our goal is to set up
a shark diving operation that provides
exciting encounters with sharks, in a
responsible and sustainable way.
The most successful conservation
initiatives understand, and accept, that
people are more likely to engage in
pro-environmental behaviour when
offered something in return, and we
believe the best way of making shark
conservation financially profitable is
through shark ecotourism.
Shark tourism is an increasingly
popular activity and every year people
spend millions of dollars to dive with
sharks. Introducing this activity to new
locations around the world demonstrates
to stakeholders that preserving
their marine resources is financially
beneficial, while also providing
opportunities and revenue to contribute
towards scientific research in order to
better understand and protect these
animals and their habitat.To prepare ourselves for the project,
and learn as much as possible about
shark tourism, we spent over two years
travelling the globe and swimming
with sharks. During this time, we dived
with over 30 different operators in 15
countries, discovering something new
and useful from each one, until we felt
ready to move onto the next phase of our
project and start looking for somewhere
to set up our own shark diving company.
Unfortunately, many countries still
view shark tourism as a risky and unsafe
activity (even though statistically it is
safer than normal scuba diving) and
finding the right destination has taken
longer than expected. It wasn’t until
recently, that we finally found a suitable
destination, and have now begun
the process of applying for all of the
necessary licenses and documentation
needed to operate there. We hope to be
fully operational by late 2018 and have
already lined up a team of experienced
shark divers and scientists to work with
us in the future.
Perhaps the best thing about this
model is that it is replicable anywhere
in the world, even in locations that do
not yet have shark tourism or realise
its potential benefits. We truly believe
that shark tourism has a huge part to
play in the future of shark conservation,
and cannot wait to open our first Shark
Business location soon.Ecotourism not only helps
to protect sharks, but also benefits the
surrounding community
IMAGE:Daniel Norwoodhttp://www.sharkbusiness.org