Asian Diver – March 2018

try to understand how scuba diving
activities over time influence shark
behaviour. The scientists studied a
remote area in the central Pacific
Ocean called Palmyra. This atoll is
in a marine protected area with a
healthy shark population and is rarely
dived. There is a scientific research
station located on the island where
researchers dive heavily while the
rest of the island remains untouched
by humans. The island was ideal for
comparing whether sharks behave
differently in locations where diving is
common and those where it is not.
The scientists used a combination
of survey techniques to determine
the abundance and behaviour of
reef sharks including baited remote
underwater video systems and
multi-year monitoring. Although
evidence from other studies has
shown that shark behaviour changes
over the short term in areas that are
heavily dived, the results of this study
determined that behavioural changes
may not persist over the long term.
The scientists did not find differences
in the abundance of sharks, their
residency patterns, nor their behaviour
between sites that were heavily dived
and sites that were not. Moreover, no
differences were observed between a
year with substantial diving and a year
with no diving on the island.

This is good news for shark tourism.

The results of this study suggest that

scuba divers can interact with sharks

in their environment without a long-

term impact on the shark’s behaviour.

It also suggests that conservation

goals will not be undermined by

BROOK PETERSON

is an avid scuba diver and

underwater photographer

who enjoys capturing the

beauty of the underwater

environment throughout

the world. She is an original

member of the SEA&SEA

Alpha programme. Her

work has been featured

in both print and online

magazines. She is the owner

of waterdogphotography.com

and authors a blog on

underwater photography

and techniques.

TOP: A reef shark glides past a diver at

Grand Bahama Island

IMAGE: Brook Peterson

The scientists did not

find differences in the

abundance of sharks,

their residency patterns,

nor their behaviour between

sites that were heavily dived

and sites that were not

responsible dive operations seeking

to promote ecotourism. It is a win

for tourism, but ultimately it is a win

for sharks.

Ultimately, individuals will have

to decide how they want to contribute

to the preservation of the shark

population. The arguments for and

against feeding sharks for ecotourism

are valid on both sides.

“The issue of shark diving and the

use of bait to attract sharks will

always be contentious,” says

underwater photographer and

Wetpixel editor, Adam Hanlon. “My

own take is that shark ecotourism’s

positives far outweigh its negatives.

It provides an alternative income to

fishing and finning for local people,

and helps to dispel the public

perception that sharks are mindless

killing machines.“

Because of shark tourism, some

countries have outlawed fishing

and are protecting sharks. While it

would be ideal to leave sharks in the

hands of Nature, the time for

that is past and irrelevant, as there

is no time left.

Human activity has put sharks

in imminent danger of extinction.

Perhaps photos and videos of these

magnificent animals will help to

remind the public of what is being lost,

and inspire change. AD