ecotourism
- Studies indicate that sharks are worth more alive than dead. People are willing to pay to dive to see sharks. Also, since sharks are top-predators and control ecosystems, sharks are vital to the marine ecosystems people want to explore.
- A recent student states that shark tourism operates in 83 locations throughout 29 countries (cited by Shark Savers from Gallagher and Hammerschlag, 2011).
- Shark tourism also promotes sources of indirect revenue towards transportation, accomodation, food, and purchase of other goods and services.
- According to Ndurya and Kihara's 2009 study, 30% of the Maldives' GDP comes from tourism. Approximately 30% of tourists stated in surveys that seeing sharks and rays were a top priority.
- Australian researchers estimated that a live reef shark in the Pacific island country of Palau is worth approximately $1.9 million throughout its lifetime. Shark tourism as a whole is estimated at $18 million annually. This contrasts greatly with the revenue generated from a pair of fins sold at $150-200 at black market price to a restaurant.
- Communities in India or the Philippines that once hunted sharks now benefit greatly from shark tourism.
While fishers rely on shark finning as a source of income, especially considering the worth of fins on the black market, they need other alternatives before we can ask of them to stop. Ecotourism, and particulalry shark tourism is a sustainable alternate revenue. While shark finning may offer more instantaneous revenue, if we continue the way we do, there will be no sharks left to fin, destroying these fishermen's revenue. By transferring to shark tourism, these people can find a reliable, long-term, legal income.