Sharks are being killed by the millions each year (Balaguer 18), and while there are regulations in place attempting to protect sharks from the massive overfishing, regulations alone are not enough. There is a deep-seated stigma surrounding sharks, which will be explained later on, that is negatively affecting attempts at conservation. This paper intends to explain the effect of stigma and cultural views on the overfishing of sharks, as well as the negative effects overfishing and endangerment of sharks has on the ecosystems and the benefits that can come from ecotourism. Increased regulations and the change of the stigma that surrounds sharks must function together in order to salvage their dwindling populations from overfishing.
The Stigma
While large predators should not be taken lightly, since any one of them could kill, the intense fear the public has of sharks is unnecessary. Sharks cannot be considered evil, they have not been proven to have a conscience or morals like humans. Movies like Jaws (1975) create the idea of a ‘rogue’ shark, which is one shark that preys specifically on humans and perpetrates a large number of attacks in the same area (Neff 118). The evil portrayal of sharks that the cinema creates causes an overwhelming fear within a lot of the public and causes them to view the fictional events as something that occurs in reality (Neff 117). This over exaggeration is far from true and helps to create the stigma that surrounds sharks. Sharks are not nearly as sinister as movies portray them to be, sharks are only following their instincts. Chris Lowe explains that sharks aren’t likely to even stalk prey, as the movies might suggest, he says it would be “too biologically expensive” given their need to constantly be in motion*check …show more content…
In spite of this, many people refuse to acknowledge our predatory
The Stigma
While large predators should not be taken lightly, since any one of them could kill, the intense fear the public has of sharks is unnecessary. Sharks cannot be considered evil, they have not been proven to have a conscience or morals like humans. Movies like Jaws (1975) create the idea of a ‘rogue’ shark, which is one shark that preys specifically on humans and perpetrates a large number of attacks in the same area (Neff 118). The evil portrayal of sharks that the cinema creates causes an overwhelming fear within a lot of the public and causes them to view the fictional events as something that occurs in reality (Neff 117). This over exaggeration is far from true and helps to create the stigma that surrounds sharks. Sharks are not nearly as sinister as movies portray them to be, sharks are only following their instincts. Chris Lowe explains that sharks aren’t likely to even stalk prey, as the movies might suggest, he says it would be “too biologically expensive” given their need to constantly be in motion*check …show more content…
In spite of this, many people refuse to acknowledge our predatory