The survey, published in the journal Marine Policy, posed a series of questions related to shark conservation to the visitors of the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth. The questions focused on assessing the respondents general knowledge of sharks as well as their knowledge of shark fisheries. Whilst nearly all survey participants displayed a good general knowledge of sharks, there was a large degree of uncertainty when questioned about shark fisheries with 21% of respondents incorrectly believing that sharks were not fished in European waters and 19% answering (incorrectly) that shark meat was not consumed in the UK.
The participants were also interviewed regarding their perception of sharks. Approximately two thirds of the survey group had a positive image of sharks and individuals who had encountered sharks in the wild displayed a more positive attitude towards sharks.
Public perception of sharks could be an important factor influencing shark conservation. When people hold high views of wild animals, they have a tendency to participate in activities to promote the protection of those animals and to avoid products and practices which could be detrimental to the survival of that species in the wild. Public opinion can be a strong driving force for policy making and bolstering protection for certain animals; a well informed and motivated public may hold the ability to drive change in terms of shark conservation.
Sharks are under threat globally owing to the pressure exerted on many species from shark finning and fishing bycatch and the study states that around half of sharks in European waters are at risk of becoming endangered or threatened with extinction. Low fecundity, slow growth rates and length of time taken to reach maturity mean that most shark species do not rebound easily once their numbers have been depleted. Finding more ways to drive public perception of sharks and to motivate individuals to become involved with shark conservation could be a real driving force for preventing the decline of these vulnerable species.
