Equitable shark ecotourism? SFU master’s student highlights potential for communities and conservation

In SFU’s School of Resource and Environmental Management’s Ocean Equity Lab, Basok studies how sustainable and equitable management practices can be applied to shark ecotourism.

“It started out with the idea that there is potential for new regions and new operations to host shark ecotourism,” she says. “If we can identify the attributes and variables that enable shark ecotourism, we can have a better idea of what is needed to host it.”

Basok explains that these industries are controversial as they can be problematic for species behaviour, population dynamics and human safety. However, when these operations are run responsibly and educate participants on the importance of shark and ocean conservation, she explains that they can be beneficial to shark populations, research and local economies. They also enable communities to financially benefit from live sharks, without having to harvest them and contribute to population declines.

“Sharks already have a bad reputation because of their presentation in popular culture and their predatory nature. Shark watching participants can be encouraged to foster positive environmental behaviors, increase their engagement in conservation activities and learn more about shark ecology.”

Shark ecotourism can also produce significant economic value, but Basok explains that this doesn’t necessarily mean that profits are seen by the coastal communities where shark watching operations are housed. Her research works to identify areas of inequity within the industry, and if patterns exist, provide recommendations for new and existing operations to move forward.

“The industry is not perfect, but it has growing potential. It is very important to recognize and choose responsible operators and learn how to be a responsible shark watcher. People should look for red flags and signs of responsible activities when choosing shark watching tours and comply with codes of conduct.”