Shark tourism

Shark tourism is a form of ecotourism rooted in having communities appreciate that local shark species are more valuable alive than dead. Instead of opting for a one time economic benefit of harvesting sharks for their body parts, communities are made to assist interested tourists who may want to see live sharks.

Shark tourism is popular in South Africa and in the Bahamas and at Isla Guadalupe. The Great White sharks in South Africa are viewed using shark cages to keep the diver safe. While divers in the Bahamas experience Reef Sharks and Tiger Sharks while they are hand-fed. Isla Guadalupe located in Mexico has been named a Bio-Sphere Reserve in an effort to control the shark diving activities there. Although the practice of shark diving proves to be controversial, it has been proven very effective in attracting tourists. Whale Sharks, while not traditionally harvested for their fins but are sometimes harvested for their meat, have also benefited from Shark Tourism because of snorkelers getting into the water with the gentle giants.

Passive and active forms of shark tourism are believed to conserve the species by generating commercial value to their lives in the natural world.