Shark research: attitudes of divers towards encounters with grey nurse sharks

A recent paper published in Aquatic Conservation: Marine & Freshwater Ecosystems has examined the attitude of scuba divers towards the practice of diving with grey nurse sharks (Carcharias taurus). The research, led by Kirin Apps, interviewed divers who had dived with grey nurse sharks at Julian Rocks and Fish Rock in NSW. Using interview techniques, the researchers sought to learn more about the behaviour of scuba divers at these sites.

The main motivations for wanting to approach grey nurse sharks were to get a better view of the shark and to interact with the shark. However, divers were also concerned that their behaviours might scare the sharks or disrupt the natural behaviour of the sharks. A large proportion of the respondents were concerned that environmentalists would disapprove if they were to approach the sharks and most interestingly there was a great deal of concern regarding the opinion of other divers with some respondents thinking the dive community would approve of their approaching a grey nurse shark and others believing this behaviour would draw disapproval from their fellow divers.

Diver interaction with delicate marine structures such as corals, and marine species such as sharks can unintentionally have a negative effect on the conservation of the marine ecosystem. Furthermore, for many people diving with sharks is a unique experience and the desire to “make the most” of the experience can sometimes lead to behaviours which may not be wholly beneficial to the animal such as touching or disturbing the animal.

However, scuba divers do tend to show respect for the underwater environment and to be in favour of conserving the oceans and recent research has suggested that shark dive tourism overall can contribute to the conservation of many shark species as it is a very effective way of making a shark worth more alive than dead. In a world where the price of shark fin has increased the rate of poaching, making live sharks valuable to governments via shark dive tourism could be a realistic way to ensure that many shark species receive government protection. In an ideal world, all forms of shark tourism would be conducted in a responsible manner which attracted divers to the activity whilst ensuring minimum disturbance to the species involved.  

Grey nurse sharks are listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of threatened species.  A better understanding of the behaviour of divers towards C. taurus will help researchers and policy makers be more aware of the potential threat towards this species from tourism and implement this knowledge accordingly in their efforts to conserve this species.