ENS 301.01
Human Perceptions on Sharks and Conservation Efforts
Embedded Files
Introduction
Introduction
Throughout history, sharks have been a common fear among humanity. With their beady eyes, layered teeth, and frightening size, it’s no wonder why these creatures are seen as a threat. This fear is mainly nurtured and maintained by entertainment industries seeking to create media displaying sharks in a gruesome way to intentionally hurt audiences (Simpfendorfer, 2021). This fear is also conceived through the spread of real-life attack stories, making the phenomenon seem like a daily occurrence. Shark attacks cause concern commonly in saltwater, touristy beaches (Putten, 2022). But is this fear rational? That is what many researchers are seeking to understand. Negative perceptions of sharks can reflect on the increase or decrease of shark conservation efforts in terms of population sizes and habitat management. However, if people perceive shark conservation as high risk, then there is likely an increased amount of support (Le Busque, 2021). In this proposal, I will seek to understand human fears of sharks and how this impacts positive and negative behaviors upon shark habitats and shark species and as a whole.
Research Question
Research Question
What are the residents and tourists of Hawaii's views of sharks and how does fear of sharks affect the overall treatment of their habitat and population?
This is important to research in order to protect and preserve sharks along with their habitats.
Decomposed Theory of Planned Behavior
Decomposed Theory of Planned Behavior
The chosen framework for this research topic revolves around how behaviors are factored in through circumstances and influences. The theory breaks apart influences into smaller categories to see causes of such behaviors. There are multiple factors related to this theory. The theory of decomposed planned behavior best aligns with the research proposal about human’s perceptions and behavior towards sharks because of normative influences towards sharks and the complexity of education of shark species will affect attitudes and then behavioral intentions toward sharks.
Literature Review
Literature Review
Sharks and human conflicts continue to grow more complicated through socio-ecological interactions.
Perceptions of sharks have been influenced by cultural and forms of media. Movie special effects and computer-generated imagery (CGI) scare movie-goers for entertainment purposes, however this can create an internal worry about sharks throughout said audiences without any based knowledge about sharks at all (Carini, 2024).
Sharks populations need to be protected for the upkeep of the world’s oceans and marine life food chain. As apex predators, sharks help to maintain and stabilize the oceanic food chain through population control of other species ranked below them while also keeping the ocean healthy through removing weak specimens and preventing disease outbreaks (The Importance of Sharks, n.d). Sharks can also help to move the carbon cycle along by eating dead matter on the seafloor which can be recycled once sharks themselves die (Motivarash, 2019)
While conservation efforts towards shark habitats and population upkeep continue, little public support has been given due to concerns over sharks.
Bull sharks, tiger sharks, and great white sharks are popular examples of the feared species (Simpfendorfer, 2021). All three are either vulnerable or near threatened (Simpfendorfer, 2021). Without proper education on sharks’ natural tendencies, fears will not be suppressed. Sharks face high levels of extinction which in turn causes conservation management to promote prevention for species loss (Simpfendorfer, 2021).
Shark ecotourism within Hawaiian communities can promote learning specifically to foster productive viewpoints upon shark populations.
A popular type of shark ecotourism is diving with sharks, either cage diving or free diving. It holds educational value and informs volunteers with non-extractive use. No damage or depletion is done to the surrounding area or wildlife (Meyer, 2009).
If ecotourism isn’t as popular with uneducated residents or large tourist populations, credible behavioral transformations and attitude shifts towards sharks may not change in Hawaii.
References
References
Butula, L. (2022, February 28). Hawaii becomes the first state to ban shark fishing entirely. The Kingfisher.
Carini, F. (2024, March 27). Fear factor: Hollywood produced “Creature features” left us unsympathetic to plight of sharks. ecoRI News.
Ceresoli, L. (2024, October 29). Shark attacks in Hawaii in 2025: Everything you need to know. AmericanSurfMagazine.
Human relationship with the ocean and sharks. The World Overlooked Integrating Science and Art. (2019).
Information Systems Research Indicators. (n.d.). Construct. Theory/Model: DTPB.
Le Busque, B., Dorrian, J., & Litchfield, C. (2021). The impact of news media portrayals of sharks on public perception of risk and support for shark conservation. Marine Policy, 124, 104341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2020.104341
MEYER, C. G., DALE, J. J., PAPASTAMATIOU, Y. P., WHITNEY, N. M., & HOLLAND, K. N. (2009). Seasonal cycles and long-term trends in abundance and species composition of sharks associated with cage diving ecotourism activities in Hawaii. Environmental Conservation, 36(2), 104–111. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0376892909990038
Midway, S. R., Wagner, T., & Burgess, G. H. (2019). Trends in global shark attacks. PLOS ONE, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0211049
Motivarash, Y. B., Fofandi, D. C., Dabhi, R. M., Rahanavas, M. A., & Poojaben, T. D. (n.d.). (PDF) importance of sharks in ocean ecosystems. Importance of sharks in an ecosystem.
Oceana. (2025, January 22). The importance of sharks. Oceana Europe.
Putten, I. van, McClean, N., Chin, A., Pillans, S., & Sbrocchi, C. (2022). What happens after a shark incident? behavioral changes among Australian beachgoers.
Simpfendorder, C. A., Huepel, M. R., White, T. C., & Dulvey, N. K. (2011). The importance of research and public opinion to conservation management of sharks and rays: a synthesis. In Marine and Freshwater Research (pp. 518–527).
Simpfendorfer, C. A., Heupel, M. R., & Kendal, D. (2021). Complex human-shark conflicts confound conservation action. Frontiers in Conservation Science, 2. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2021.692767
Sutcliffe, S. R., & Barnes, M. L. (2018). The role of shark ecotourism in conservation behaviour: Evidence from Hawaii. Marine Policy, 97, 27–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2018.08.022
Thompson, P. (2017). Foundations of Educational Technology 10.2 Decomposed Theory of Planned Behavior (pp. 137–137).
Tsoi, K. H., Chan, S. Y., Lee, Y. C., Ip, B. H., & Cheang, C. C. (2016). Shark conservation: An educational approach based on children’s knowledge and perceptions toward sharks. PLOS ONE, 11(9). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0163406
Walsh, W. A., Bigelow, K. A., & Sender, K. L. (2009). Decreases in shark catches and mortality in the Hawaii-based longline fishery as documented by fishery observers. Marine and Coastal Fisheries, 1(1), 270–282. https://doi.org/10.1577/c09-003.1
Page updated
Report abuse