Shark Attack versus Ecotourism: Negative and Positive Interactions

Abstract

Unprovokedattacksbysharksonhumansareexceptionallyrarephenomena.Sharkstypicallyhavetwomotivations, feedingordefense,thatresultinattacksonhumans.Threespecies,thebull,tiger,andwhitesharks,areresponsibleforthemajority ofattacksonhumans.Thesepredominantlyfeeding-motivatedattacksareoftentheresultofthesharkmistakingitshumanvictim fornaturalprey. Many species,however,exhibitadefensive,aggressivedisplay that,unheeded,may result inasinglebiteor slashingwoundtoahuman.Thenumberofunprovokedattacksbysharksonhumansworldwidehasrisenfrom8during1900- 1904,ofwhich2werefatal,to330during2000-2004,ofwhich29werefatal.Theratesof5.8fatalitiesperyearduring2000-2004 and6.4fatalitiesperyearduring1995-1999arenegligiblerelativetotheaverageof42,593fatalitiesperyearduetoautomobile accidentsreportedfrom1993-1995intheUnitedStatesalone.Takingalookatsharksfromanotherperspective,ecotourismhas becomeimmenselypopularinthe1990sand2000s.Thereareopportunitiestoviewsharksinthewildoneverycontinentexcept Antarctica, with the scalloped hammerhead, white, whale, and reef sharks being among the most popular subjects.  Shark ecotourismisprovidingthepublicwithanobservationalexperiencethatcanbeaspleasurableaswhalewatching,anditcanbea cost-effectivealternativesourceofemploymentforfishermen.Thiscouldleadtoreducedsharkfishingincertainregionsofthe worldandenablesharkpopulationstorecovertotheirformerlevelsofabundance.