Work in Progress –
Some Quotes from Scientific literature below – if you are interested to capture the full extend, PLEASE read the full articles as those are only quotes.
From Gallagher et al. 2015:
…We conclude that under the right conditions and if done in a precautionary, responsible manner, shark diving can provide a net conservation benefit…
From Macdonald et al. 2017:
Our findings suggest tourism is most likely to support predator conservation and/or recovery when the industry has both public and political support and under conditions of effective regulation focused on management, monitoring and enforcement by local, national, and international bodies.
From Hammerschlag et al. 2017:
We also found limited empirical support for hypothesized effects of provi- sioning tourism on tiger shark habitat use.
and 2012:
Satellite telemetry data rejected the behaviourally mediated effects of provisioning ecotourism at large spatial and temporal scales.
From Gallagher and Hammerschlag 2011:
Shark-based tourism is a global phenomenon. Once feared and despised, sharks today draw significant attention and allure from people worldwide. Their importance to the diving and marine tourist industry is highlighted by the distribution, frequency, and value of shark ecotourism. We urge managers and NGOs to strongly consider and utilise the economic figures and values of live sharks presented here when shaping and constructing manage- ment initiatives. Responsible shark ecotourism can also benefit research and conservation. Moreover, since many shark species are long-lived, these natural resources may accrue revenue over extended periods of time, thus offering potential benefits to local economies that can last decades and beyond.
Other resources:
Press article (in french) on animal interaction : https://www.scuba-people.com/une-question-de-toucher/