Participating in ecotourism experiences that allow observing sharks in their natural habitat can increase tourists’ engagement in the protection of these animals in the long term. A study from the University of Sydney in Australia concluded that, two years after these experiences, participants had a 40% higher likelihood of developing conservation behaviors, such as signing petitions, making donations, or advocating protective legislative measures.
Published in the scientific journal npj Ocean Sustainability, the study is the first to demonstrate a commitment to shark conservation that lasts for at least two years after an ecotourism experience. The researchers consider that the results demonstrate the potential of this activity to contribute to the protection of species whose populations have been declining.
According to the research, global shark populations have declined by 71% worldwide in the last 50 years and one third of species is currently threatened with extinction. In contrast, ecotourism associated with observing sharks and rays has grown, involving, according to the estimates cited by the authors, more than 500 thousand people per year in activities carried out in at least 20 countries.
Water-based experiences with an educational component
The research was conducted by Carmen Dobszewicz, a PhD candidate at the University of Sydney, and her team. The investigators followed two groups in Hawaii: tourists who participated in a shark-watching experience on Oʻahu and a comparison group recruited at Waikīkī Beach.
During the activity, the tourists went snorkeling with a mask and snorkel or freediving, accompanied by a marine biologist who monitored the sharks to support the scientific research and shared information about the conservation of the species.
Both groups were surveyed at the start of the study and again two years later to assess their involvement in shark-protection initiatives. Although both groups recorded an increase in conservation actions over that period, the increase was more pronounced among participants in the ecotourism visits. The difference remained after the researchers accounted for factors such as demographic characteristics, prior involvement in conservation initiatives, and dropouts during follow-up.
Among the behaviors that increased most in this group were posting content on social media, signing petitions, making donations, and advocating for shark-protection legislation.
“Our results suggest that responsible tour operators can make an important contribution to efforts to curb the rapid decline of shark populations and help dispel widely held misconceptions about these animals,” says Carmen Dobszewicz.
The researcher also emphasizes the importance of complementing the in-water experience with information about the role of sharks in ecosystems, the threats they face, and the measures that can contribute to their recovery.
The connection to nature as a catalyst for change
Michele Barnes, associate professor and co-author of the study, believes that the results reinforce the importance of the relationships between people and the natural environment for biodiversity conservation.
“Conservation ultimately depends on people. When we create or strengthen meaningful connections between people and the natural world, we create the conditions for lasting change, essential for a sustainable future,” she says.
The authors argue that ecotourism experiences conducted responsibly can go beyond the economic benefits associated with the activity, also contributing to greater knowledge about sharks and encouraging protective behaviors for marine life.
