The Public Fear Sharks Less When They Understand Their Behaviour 12 December 2017

The public fear sharks less when they understand their behaviour 12 December 2017

The study shows aquarium visitors were less afraid of sharks and less likely to blame sharks for incidents where a swimmer or surfer was bitten, once they better understood shark behaviour – and that sharks do not hurt humans with 'intent.'

The study was co-authored by Dr Chris Pepin-Neff and Dr Thomas Wynter of the University of Sydney and is published in the latest edition of Marine Policy.

"When sharks bite humans, governments and policymakers fear a public outcry, and emotions are pitted against evidence-based policymaking," said Dr Pepin-Neff. Credit: University of Sydney "This study challenges perceived public support for lethal measures, such as Western Australia's 'serious and imminent threat policy,' which sees Researchers surveyed more than 500 visitors to an sharks who swim by beaches hunted and killed." aquarium 'shark tunnel' to understand how attitudes to sharks and government shark policies Co-author Dr Thomas Wynter added: "Our research can change. echoes past studies that found little public support for killing sharks and a greater desire for a An experiment involving more than 500 visitors to conservation focus." an aquarium 'shark tunnel' has shown the public's fear of sharks reduces when they learn about the Waste dumping, fishing, and the presence of other species by watching their behaviour. marine life in ecosystems are thought to be conducive to shark bites, according to the Marine University of Sydney researchers conducted a Policy paper, and its co-authors say these factors randomised experiment in Shark Valley at SEA should be more promptly investigated following any LIFE Sydney Aquarium in November 2013, by bite incident as a means of challenging inaccurate setting up iPads running survey software at the perceptions of 'rogue' or 'killer' sharks. entrance and exit of a 'shark tunnel.' More information: Christopher L. Pepin-Neff et Aquarium visitors were asked questions about their al. Reducing fear to influence policy preferences: perceptions of sharks, their level of pride in the An experiment with sharks and beach safety policy local shark population, their fear of sharks and options, Marine Policy (2017). DOI: shark bites, who they blame for shark bites, and 10.1016/j.marpol.2017.11.023 the role of government in shark bite prevention. Aquarium visitors completed surveys before and after walking through the 'shark tunnel' while sharks swam above. Provided by University of Sydney

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APA citation: The public fear sharks less when they understand their behaviour (2017, December 12) retrieved 26 September 2021 from https://phys.org/news/2017-12-sharks-behaviour.html

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