SHARKS AS AN ECONOMIC DRIVER

Let’s get to one of the most significant factors on this topic, from a conservation point of view. Shark diving represents a way to make money and provide jobs by NOT killing and harvesting sharks. The fact that animals must represent income and a benefit to the economy may sound inherently wrong from an ethical point of view, but the reality is that in our society we tend to only protect what has a perceived value to humans. Like it or not, policy decisions are mostly guided by what is important to the economy. It is extremely difficult to protect an animal species simply because we think they have a right to exist. It shouldn’t be that way, but it is.

Scuba diving is now a major part of the growing eco-tourism industry and in some countries, like the Bahamas and Palau, completely dominates the local economy. Encountering sharks is a major attraction amongst divers, and specialized shark dives have become an experience every diver yearns for. More and more non-divers also have a shark encounter on their bucket list. This has led to an unprecedented interest and passion for sharks, and a noticeable shift in the public’s perception of sharks, particularly in the areas where shark diving has become a regular part of the industry. 

Sometimes acceptance of sharks comes before passion for sharks. As coastal communities benefit from the dive industry economically, and more people encounter sharks on a regular basis through their jobs as dive guides, boat crew and educators, they also affect the community that surrounds them. Sharks then become revered as a resource that, when protected, can continue to provide jobs and income for years to come.