Fins and Fear: A Dive Into Human-Shark Conflict
Category: Community Engagement Poster
Author(s): Jordan Rivera
Presenter(s): Jordan Rivera
Mentors(s): Veronica Yovovich
For decades, sharks have been presented in the media to be monsters from a deep blue world. Pictured with sharp teeth and daunting fins, sharks have been portrayed as villains to be feared. This viewpoint, however, is the true danger as sharks are poorly represented in conservation due to deeply felt beliefs, values, and fears around this critical marine animal. Sharks such as the white shark (Carcharodon carcharia), also known as the Great White Shark, are important species in Australia; their presence is critical to ecosystem health, but there are many perspectives on how sharks should be managed when it comes to human-shark interaction. This poster will explore the levels and key stakeholders involved in human-shark conflict in Australia. It will also evaluate three potential approaches to mitigating human-shark conflict including economic, practical, and social aspects of the issue.