Shark Cage Diving Case Study

agrees with Barry D. Bruce when it states that despite the research results there was still not enough data to know for sure if shark cage diving would negatively impact shark populations(2873). Charlie Huveneers at the end of the article writes that from what has been observed there is a possibility that shark cage diving could reduce the over all health and fitness of the shark population at Neptune Islands and recommends for more research to be done(2873). Based on the information from both these articles it is clear that indeed more research must be done. As stated by Charlie Huveneers there is a real possibility that shark cage diving might have a negative effect on shark populations. By giving sharks free food in order to attract them to the boats it is possible that sharks over all become much less fit as a result since they don't have to work to get their meal(2873). Therefore it will be important to conduct research to determine if by giving sharks free food does it greatly reduce the sharks chance to catch food on its own. However, sharks are known to be scavengers since they prefer an easy meal, such as a dead whale's carcass rather then chasing down a tuna. While the negative effects of the shark cage diving industry might still be a mystery, the positive effects of the industry on the other hand are not. Shark cage diving does have it's benefits aside from providing customers an exhilarating experience. Shark cage diving brings in a huge amount of money into any countries economy. As a result many environmentalists argue that shark cage diving is beneficial to the shark population because it will force countries to protect shark populations from fisherman who capture sharks in order to cut of their highly valuable fins. Shark fins are highly valuable due to the high demand for them in Asian countries by restaurants as the primary ingredient for shark fin soup. Unfortunately as a direct consequence of the shark fin soup industry seventy-three million sharks are killed every year as a result. The shark fin soup industry is the biggest threat facing the shark population today. As a result of the massive amounts of death caused by the shark fin soup industry many worry that this industry will make sharks an extinct species if nothing is done to protect them. Here is where the shark cage diving industry comes in, because shark cage diving make sharks much more valuable alive then dead it gives countries a huge incentive to protect and preserve sharks. According to Barry D. Bruce the shark cage diving industry brings in eighteen million dollars to the Palau economy and eight hundred million dollars to the Bahamian economy(890). As a result of the massive income generated by the shark cage diving industry there is now money to fund more shark research. However, this may not be the best solution for funding more research Research that is funded by the cage diving industry may face backlash from the media. Since the research was sponsored by the shark diving industry …show more content…
However there is enough information to show that the shark fin soup industry is a major threat to the shark population and if we let this industry do as it wants sharks will go instinct within the next fifty years or less. As consumers we have a choice to make between two evils, the greater evil being the shark fin soup industry and the lesser evil the shark cage diving industry. Which industry should we support is the question and in my opinion the answer is quite clear. We should support the shark cage diving industry because unlike shark fin soup which tastes like nothing at all according to Chef Gordon Ramsey and involves the death of sharks across the globe, shark cage diving gives us a much more worth while experience that we can relive over and over again through pictures, videos, and memories of the experience. Include the fact that as a consumer you can feel proud of spending your money on the shark cage diving industry cause it will also help shark conservation efforts then the benefits greatly out weigh the negatives, especially compared to the shark fin soup