PROJECT AWARE

AWARE Shark Conservation

Distinctive Specialty Course
Study
Guide
Distinctive Specialty Course Study Guide
Product No. 72002 (Rev. 09/12) Version 1.02
AWARE Shark Conservation Study Guide 2
AWARE Shark Conservation
Study Guide
Acknowledgements
Project AWARE Foundation would like to thank Sonja Fordham, President of Shark
Advocates International (www.sharkadvocates.org) and Deputy-Chair of the IUCN
Shark Specialist Group, for her invaluable input in the creation of the AWARE Shark
Conservation Diver Distinctive Specialty program. We greatly appreciate Sonjas role
in helping ensure AWARE Shark Conservation contains the best available science and
policy information to help turn divers and non divers into shark advocates. Sonja works
on the front lines of shark fishing and trade debates to safeguard sharks through sound
conservation policies. Project AWARE was proud to have Sonja involved in this project
and we look forward to partnering with her and Shark Advocates International on shark
conservation initiatives in the future.
To download a free PDF of this document, to learn more about Project AWARE
Foundation, and submit comments or suggestions about this, or other Project AWARE
products or programs, please visit www.projectaware.org
Project AWARE Foundation 2011
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No
Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/
AWARE Shark Conservation Study Guide 3
AWARE Shark Conservation
Table of Contents
Introduction
Lets help our friends the sharks! 4
Sharks in peril and why we should care
Unique physical attributes of sharks 5
Conservation status of sharks 6
Life history traits that make sharks vulnerable 7
Importance of sharks to marine ecosystems 8
Managing threats and recognising values
Major threats contributing to declines in shark populations 9
Key management strategies that can protect sharks 14
Value of sharks to local economies 20
Removing common misperceptions of sharks that are a barrier to conservation 21
Taking action and joining the Project AWARE movement
Personal actions you can take to protect sharks 22
Find the conservation status of your local sharks 24
Discover the sharks in your region 24
Join the global movement of Project AWARE divers 25
Resources and References
List of Resources 27
AWARE Shark Conservation Study Guide 4
Lets help our friends
the sharks!
Sharks are in trouble and need our help - will you help our friends the sharks?
Sharks are crucial to marine ecosystems. They maintain a balance in populations of prey species
and keep the ocean healthy by removing ill or diseased animals. They are an important resource
supporting local economies through fishing and as an attraction to dive tourists.
But sharks are in a global decline. Overfishing has reduced many shark populations around the
world to levels that threaten their continued existence. Shark numbers have fallen by more than
80% in many cases, and the continued existence of some species is at immediate risk in some
regions.
This Study Guide takes you down with the sharks. Read on to discover what makes sharks unique
and find out that, despite their bad reputation, they play a crucial role in keeping our ocean healthy.
You will also discover how close we are to losing some shark species forever, but there is hope. This
Study Guide takes you through the management strategies that can help protect sharks and, best of
all, the many actions you can take to give sharks a fighting chance.
This Study Guide is a companion to Project AWAREs scuba dive course, the AWARE Shark
Conservation Diver Distinctive Specialty. If reading this Guide leaves you thirsty for more shark
knowledge and experience then contact your local PADI Dive Centre to participate in the dives that
accompany this course. You will learn about sharks in your region and the local issues that may be
harming them. Complete the course to receive PADI certification as an AWARE Shark Conservation
Diver.
Not a diver? No problem! Everyone can help the sharks through their personal actions and purchase
decisions, this Study Guide shows you how. However, you can also contact your local PADI Dive Centre
to join an AWARE Shark Conservation course for the classroom presentation alone. You will receive a
certificate of participation and who knows, perhaps be inspired to become a diver!
So read on and discover why the sharks deserve your friendship. Not just deserve: they are in
desperate need of you as a friend. We hope this Study Guide will inspire you to take action, join the
Project AWARE movement and become a champion for shark conservation.
Lets help our friends the sharks!
5
Sharks in peril and why we
should care
The frst sharks appeared in the worlds oceans over
400 million years ago, more than 150 million years
before the first dinosaurs took to the land. Most of the
modern sharks we see today first appeared around
100 million years ago. By comparison the first humans
evolved only around 200,000 years ago.
Sharks occupy every marine environment from tropical
coral reefs, to temperate coastal waters, to the open
ocean, to the icy ocean depths. Some species also
venture into freshwater such as the bull and the river
shark.
Sharks have evolved into roughly 500 species and come
in many sizes from the dwarf lantern shark at around
7 cm to the whale shark - the worlds largest fish - that
grows up to 12 metres.
We usually think of sharks as having a streamlined,
torpedo shaped body with rigid dorsal and pectoral
fins. Most sharks do have this form but others are
quite different. For example Bullhead Sharks (Order
Heterodontiformes), are chubby with large heads
and horns over their eyes, while Angel Sharks (Order
Squatiniformes), have flattened, disc-like bodies and
look much like a ray.
Sharks eat a great variety of prey. Most sharks are
predators, but some are scavengers, while whale and
basking sharks are filter feeders with eating habits
similar to a baleen whale.
With so many differences between sharks, how do we
tell when a fish is a shark? Scientists use a system
known as taxonomy to classify species according to
their unique physical attributes.
The main unique physical attributes used to identify
sharks are a skeleton made from cartilage, exposed
gill slits and a large, oil filled liver to aid buoyancy.
These features differentiate sharks from other fish
that have skeletons made from bone, a cover over their
gills and, in most bony fish species, a gas-filled swim
bladder to control buoyancy.
A skeleton made from cartilage - the same
substance that supports our noses - gives
sharks several advantages as it is light, strong and
flexible. Since sharks lack a swim bladder they have
a natural tendency to sink. Their lightweight skeleton
combined with a liver full of oil helps them overcome
this tendency.
Sharks share these body attributes with rays, skates
and chimaeras. Due to these shared attributes these
animals are placed together in a Suborder known as
Elasmobranchii.
Unique physical attributes of sharks
Sharks in peril and why we should care
Jayne Jenkins www.underwatersydney.org Port Jackson shark
6
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Red List Review of 1044 Shark, Ray and Chimaera Species
Critically Endangered 2% Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild
Endangered 4% Very high risk of extinction in the wild
Vulnerable 11% High risk of extinction in the wild
Near Threatened 13%
Close to qualifying or likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near
future
Least Concern 23% Not qualifying as Threatened including widespread and abundant species
Data Deficient 47% More information required for assessment
The International Union for the Conservation of
Nature (IUCN) is a leading authority on the status of
the worlds plant and animal species. IUCN Specialist
Groups assess and classify plants and animals to
identify those in danger of extinction. Their findings
are published in the IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species
TM
.
Species assessed as Critically Endangered,
Endangered or Vulnerable are considered by the
IUCN to be Threatened. The Red List review of 1044
sharks, rays and chimaeras found that 30% are
Threatened or Near Threatened with extinction.
A further 47% are categorised as Data Deficient,
meaning that more information is required to place
them in a threat category. Species in the Data
Deficient category may be found to be Threatened
once they have been assessed.
The Red List review of
1044 sharks, rays and
chimaeras found that
30% are Threatened
or Near Threatened
with extinction
Research into certain shark species or regions has
uncovered more alarming estimates:
One third of pelagic (open ocean) sharks and
rays are threatened with extinction
Hammerhead sharks have declined by 89% in
the North West and Western Central Atlantic
since 1986
Great hammerheads have declined by 80% in
the eastern Atlantic
Porbeagle and spiny dogfsh sharks have been
reduced by 90% in the Northwest Atlantic
One third of European sharks are Threatened
with extinction, one of the highest levels of all
assessed regions in the world
14 species of Mediterranean sharks and rays
are Critically Endangered
These statistics show that sharks are in serious
trouble. If we do not act quickly and decisively we risk
virtually emptying the ocean of sharks. This will have
devastating consequences for marine ecosystems
and human society.
Conservation status of sharks
Sharks in peril and why we should care
7
Most shark species are characterised by one or
more life history traits that make them vulnerable to
overfishing, including:
It takes them a long time to reach sexual
maturity
They have long gestation periods (one to two
years)
They have a small number of offspring (pups)
They breed only every second or third year
Compared to other vertebrates (animals with a
backbone including mammals), sharks generally have
a slow reproductive cycle. The reproductive strategy
of most shark species more closely resembles those
of whales, elephants and birds than other fish.
Under natural conditions this slow reproductive
strategy works well for sharks as they have few
predators and so have no need to rapidly replenish
their numbers.
These traits work against sharks when they need to
recover from overfishing or other substantial losses.
A slow reproductive strategy means they are unable
to respond quickly to the removal of many individuals
from a population.
For example, the dusky shark can take more than 20
years to reach sexual maturity. Most shark species
give birth to between 2 and 20 pups after a pregnancy
of 8-12 months, though spiny dogfish are thought to
gestate for nearly two years. Females of many shark
species rest between breeding cycles for at least one
year.
The sharks reproductive strategy is very different to
most bony ocean fish that release millions of eggs in
a lifetime. As we shall see later in the course, this key
difference contributes greatly to the many problems
associated with shark fisheries management.
Another trait that makes some shark species
vulnerable to heavy fishing is their tendency to form
groups based on their age, sex and/or maturity.
Large, older females of many shark species
produce greater numbers of stronger pups than
younger females, so the sudden removal of these
older females through fishing can have serious
consequences for the population.
Life history traits that make sharks vulnerable
Sharks in peril and why we should care
8
Sharks play a crucial role in maintaining the health
of marine ecosystems by keeping a balance among
prey species and by removing sick, injured and
diseased animals.
Sharks are often the apex predator in their
ecosystem, meaning they are at the top of many
food chains. As adults they have no or few natural
predators.
Typical traits of apex predators is that they feed on
many different species and change food sources
when one prey animal becomes hard to find. In this
way sharks help maintain a balance that ensures no
one species over-populates and depletes the species
on which it feeds.
Food chains describe how energy moves among
species. A typical food chain starts with plants that
use the suns energy to make their body parts. Plants
are consumed by herbivores (plant eaters), who
are consumed by carnivores (meat eaters). Small
carnivores are consumed by large carnivores until the
apex predators - the last animal in the food chain -
are reached.
Most animals are links in multiple food chains within
an ecosystem. Together these food chains form a
complex food web that intimately links predators to
prey.
Removing an animal from a food web can have
repercussions throughout an ecosystem. The diagram
reveals the potential impacts to a simple food chain of
removing sharks from a marine ecosystem:
fewer apex
predators
more
lower-level
carnivores
fewer
herbivores
more macroalgae
(e.g. seaweed, base
of food chain)
To see how removing apex predators affects marine
ecosystems we need to study marine areas that have
had little exposure to human impacts, especially
fishing. Studies of remote reefs have revealed
ecosystems that are very different from those we
know today.
A study of reefs in the Northwestern Hawaii Islands
found that apex predators, including sharks, comprise
over half of the fish biomass compared to less than
10% on reefs that are fished. On the unaltered reefs
the sharks are bigger and populations of all species
are far greater. Additionally the unaltered reefs
are home to a larger variety of other species than
regularly fished reefs.
The presence of sharks can also protect seagrass
beds from over-grazing by dugongs and green sea
turtles. These animals prefer to eat in the middle of a
sea grass bed where the quality of food is the highest.
But it is harder for them to escape a hunting shark
from the middle of a large seagrass bed, so they stay
on the outside when sharks are present. Seagrass
beds are an important habitat for many fish and
invertebrate species.
Importance of sharks to marine ecosystems
Sharks in peril and why we should care
9
Overfshing is the main cause of the rapid decline in
shark populations. It is mostly due to overfishing that
many shark species are threatened with extinction.
Sharks are caught in targeted fisheries and as
bycatch (see page 12). Demand for high value fins, the
primary ingredient for Asian shark fin soup, is a main
driver of shark fisheries, but demand for shark meat,
particularly in Europe, is also strong and has led to
serious depletion of several shark populations.
Sharks are caught by countries from all around the
world. The top 20 shark catching nations account for
nearly 80% of the annual reported shark catch. The
top four shark fishing countries account for more
than 35% of the annual reported take.
Some of the many uses of shark body parts are:
Shark fns for shark fn soup in Asia and many
other countries
Spiny dogfsh meat is popular in Europe, often
used in fsh and chips in the United Kingdom and
smoked to create Schillerlocken in Germany
Porbeagle meat is prized as veal of the sea in
France
Mako, thresher and blacktip shark steaks are
popular in America
Meat from Greenland and basking sharks is
used to produce hkarl, a traditional delicacy of
Iceland and Greenland
Shark is known as fake in Australia and often
used in fsh and chips
Products called fsh may contain shark, such as
fsh fngers
Shark liver oil has many industrial uses
Shark skin is a delicacy in many cultures and is
used to make leather products
Shark liver oil and shark cartilage are said to
have health benefts, though their benefts are
unproven
Shark jaws and teeth are sold as souvenirs
The top 20 shark catching nations in order of size of catch, greatest take frst
Rank Country Rank Country Rank Country Rank Country
1 Indonesia 6 Mexico 11 Thailand 16 Portugal
2 India 7 Pakistan 12 France 17 Nigeria
3 Spain 8 USA 13 Brazil 18 Iran
4 Taiwan 9 Japan 14 Sri Lanka 19 UK
5 Argentina 10 Malaysia 15 New Zealand 20 S Korea
Source: The Future of Sharks: A Review of Action and Inaction
It is mostly due to
overshing
that many
shark species
are threatened with
extinction
Managing threats and
recognising values
Major threats contributing to declines in shark populations
Managing threats and recognising values
10
Estimating how many sharks are killed in fisheries
every year is difficult for several reasons. Fishing
nations have different reporting requirements and
capacity, or none at all. For example, most countries
fishing sharks in the Indian Ocean do not report
their catches properly if at all. Reported totals do
not usually include bycatch, illegal fishing, or sharks
taken by small scale fishing (traditional, artisanal
and/or subsistence) and recreational fishing.
The FAO reports that commercial catches of sharks,
rays and chimaeras have declined from a peak of
0.9 million tonnes in 2003 to 0.75 million tonnes in
2006. It is unknown whether this is due to improved
management of shark fisheries or decreasing shark
populations through overfishing or a combination of both.
Other reports have revealed that the FAO figure is a
serious underestimate. A study that analysed shark
fin trade records estimated that the weight of sharks
killed annually to support the global shark fin trade is
between 1.21 and 2.29 million tonnes with a median
of 1.70 million tonnes. This is equivalent to between
26 and 73 million sharks killed every year with a best
estimate of 38 million individual sharks.
The report warns that actual global shark mortality
is higher as this figure does not include sharks killed
for the fishing countrys domestic fin market, sharks
discarded dead at sea, or sharks used only for their meat.
Shark Fin Soup
Shark fin soup is a status symbol in Chinese
culture as historically it was a dish reserved for the
Emperor. Today serving shark fin soup to your guests
demonstrates that you think highly of them, and that
you have great personal wealth.
But the demand for shark fin soup is fast outpacing
supply. Rapidly growing populations and rising
incomes means many more people can now afford
shark fin soup. Demand for shark fins is driving the
global depletion of shark populations as fishers from
all countries learn of the opportunities for profit.
Shark fins are among the worlds most valuable
fisheries products. Processed shark fins can
cost hundreds of dollars per kilogram compared
with US$1 to US$10 per kilogram for shark meat
depending on species. A bowl of soup can sell for as
much as US$100.
Shark fins add texture to soup rather than flavour.
Many chefs use chicken soup as a base for their
shark fin soup.
Soup fin and cow sharks piled up on a dock Fiona Ayerst/Marine Photobank
Major threats contributing to declines in shark populations .....
Managing threats and recognising values
11
Shark Finning
Shark finning is the practice of removing a sharks
fins at sea and discarding the body overboard. Sharks
are frequently finned while still alive.
Why do fishers go to the trouble of catching a shark
only to throw most of it away? The answer lies in
the high value of shark fins. Shark fins are among
the worlds most valuable fisheries products while
shark meat is generally much less valuable. So the
temptation is strong for fishers to throw the bulky
shark carcasses overboard leaving room in the ships
holds for more shark fins or more valuable species
such as tuna and swordfish.
Shark finning has been banned by many countries,
though international trade in shark fins is allowed
for most species. Because finning happens out at
sea where monitoring is generally poor and fishing
regulations are lacking or weak, the practice of
finning continues.
Nancy Boucha, www.scubasystems.org 2005/Marine Photobank Finned Shark
Dried Shark Fin Market www.silentreef.com.au
Major threats contributing to declines in shark populations .....
Managing threats and recognising values
12
Bycatch
Fishers use a variety of methods to catch fish; most
of them result in bycatch. Bycatch refers to the part of
a catch that is not the target species or is undersized.
Bycatch can not be landed in many regions depending
on local regulations and how strictly they are
enforced. When bycatch can not be landed or is not
wanted it is dumped overboard, sometimes live,
sometimes dead or dying.
Bycatch includes sharks and bony fish as well as
dolphins, whales, turtles, invertebrates and seabirds.
Bycatch accounts for the majority of the total catch in
some shrimp trawl fisheries.
Tens of millions of sharks are killed as bycatch every
year. Discarded bycatch is rarely accounted for in
fishery records so these shark deaths are missing
from official statistics.
Shark nning is to
remove a sharks
ns at sea and
discard the body
overboard
Naomi Blinick/Marine Photobank Fishing bycatch dumped overboard
Major threats contributing to declines in shark populations .....
Managing threats and recognising values
13
Other Impacts
Many human activities on land have a negative effect
on sharks, particularly reef and coastal species.
Scientists warn that 75 percent of the worlds coral
reefs are threatened from local pressures such as
coastal development, pollution and overfishing,
combined with the impacts of rising sea temperatures
caused by increased concentrations of CO2 and other
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. One fifth of the
worlds mangroves have been removed since 1980 for
land reclamation projects and aquaculture farms.
Coastal development can damage important shark
habitats and nurseries. Mangroves, estuaries and
salt marshes provide important habitats for sharks
to give birth and mature. These areas are rapidly
being destroyed in mankinds rush to accommodate a
growing population.
Marine debris - the rubbish we allow into the ocean-
kills and injures sharks through entanglement or
because they eat it. Ghost nets - fishing nets that
have been accidently lost or purposefully dumped at
sea - also contribute to the annual shark death toll.
Jane Dermer/Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation,
Courtesy of GhostNets Australia
Other impacts include swimmer protection devices
such as beach nets and drumlines with baited hooks
used in Australia and South Africa. These devices
kill sharks including species that are of no threat to
humans, as well as many other marine animals such
as dolphins, rays and turtles.
Wolcott Henry 2005/Marine Photobank
Coastal development in Southern California
Major threats contributing to declines in shark populations .....
Managing threats and recognising values
14
Sharks need protection - from us! Many shark
species migrate over great distances; they cross
international boundaries and move from areas of
high protection to areas of no protection. Effective
shark management strategies needed to make shark
fisheries sustainable include:
Well-enforced, science-based catch limits
Conservation measures consistent throughout
the range of each species.
Being based on scientifc advice and the
precautionary approach
An aim to minimise waste
Following are some of the management strategies
that can help protect sharks.
International Plan of Action-Sharks
(IPOA-Sharks)
The 1999 United Nations Food and Agriculture
(FAO) International Plan of Action for Sharks (IPOA-
Sharks) was a significant step toward encouraging
management of shark fisheries. It calls on each shark
fishing nation to develop and adopt a National Plan of
Action (NPOA) for the conservation and management
of sharks.
NPOAs are intended to make shark fisheries
sustainable by:
Assessing threats such as overfshing
Protecting critical habitats
Minimising waste and discards (e.g. fnning
bans)
Encouraging the full use of dead sharks
All members of the FAOs Committee on Fisheries
(COFI) agreed that all relevant fishing nations should
implement a Shark NPOA by 2001. However this
process is voluntary and as of January 2011 only 13 of
the worlds top 20 fishing nations had a Shark NPOA
in place.
It is impossible to speculate about the status
of national and international shark fisheries
management had the IPOA-Shark not been
developed, however reports published in 2011
revealed that a country that has a NPOA in place
does not necessarily have sound shark fisheries
management.
The IPOA process has been very slow, but this
instrument has raised the profile of sharks and their
plight, and has led to helpful guidelines and a source
of assistance for countries with the political will to
manage their shark fisheries.
Fiona Ayerst/Marine Photobank Bull shark caught in net
Key management strategies that can protect sharks
Managing threats and recognising values
15
Regional Fisheries Management
Organisations (RFMOs)
RFMOs facilitate the management of multi-nation
fishing of shared fish-stocks taken from international
waters or highly migratory species. RFMOs aim
to conserve fish populations through cooperative
agreements on vessel-monitoring, area management,
and fishing limits.
RFMOs have been slow to address shark overfishing,
and their record is also generally poor in conserving
species that are the focus of traditional fisheries
management, such as tuna, swordfish, billfish,
groundfish and shrimp.
As explained earlier, the life history of sharks differs
greatly from other fished species. Sharks warrant a
particularly precautionary management approach
based on their slow reproductive strategy. However,
because sharks have traditionally not been as
valuable as other fish, information on their life cycles
and catch records are lacking. These issues should
be addressed in Regional Plans of Action for sharks
which are also recommended under the IPOA. As of
2011 no RFMO has developed such a plan.
Most RFMOs have banned shark finning (see
page 16) but have not set any international shark
fishing quotas for the high seas. The International
Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
has adopted bans on the retention and sale of bigeye
thresher and oceanic whitetip sharks along with some
limits on hammerhead shark fishing. The Indian
Ocean Tuna Commission has prohibited the retention
of all thresher shark species, but this measure has
yet to be implemented by the vast majority of member
countries.
Key management strategies that can protect sharks .....
Managing threats and recognising values
16
Finning Bans
Most RFMOs and nearly 30 countries including the
USA and the Member States of the European Union
have adopted finning bans. Finning bans do not stop
sharks from being caught; instead they aim to ensure
that fishers do not dump shark carcasses overboard
after removing the fins.
Finning bans work by stipulating a maximum fin-to-
carcass weight ratio that must be maintained onboard
a fishing boat. If fishers dump shark carcasses
overboard after removing the fins, the weight of fins
will be too high compared to the weight of carcasses.
The IUCN has recommended that fin to carcass
ratios should not exceed 5% of the dressed weight
of shark carcasses. Dressed carcasses are those
that have had their heads and guts removed. Using
the whole weight creates a loophole through which
an estimated two to three sharks could be finned for
every one kept.
In order to match differing standards among member
countries, RFMO finning bans do not currently
stipulate whether their ratio refers to the dressed or
whole carcass weight. The European and Brazilian
finning bans specify a ratio of 5% of the whole weight,
thereby lowering global standards and setting a bad
example for other countries.
Another major loophole in the European finning ban
is that it allows fins to be landed at separate ports to
carcasses, making it hard to enforce the ban.
The IUCN, conservation groups and most scientists
agree the most effective way to enforce finning bans
is to require that carcasses are landed with fins
naturally attached. Fins can be partially cut for ease
of storage. This arrangement also makes it easier
to collect much needed species-specific shark catch
data, as sharks are easier to identify with their fins
attached.
If properly enforced, finning bans can dramatically
reduce waste and shark mortality while more
rigorous fishing limits are developed.
Finning bans do not
stop sharks from
being caught; instead
they aim to ensure
that shers do not
dump shark carcasses
overboard after
removing the ns
Phil Simha
Key management strategies that can protect sharks .....
Managing threats and recognising values
17
Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora (CITES)
CITES is an international agreement among the
governments of 175 member countries that helps
to regulate international trade in more than 30,000
species of threatened animals and plants. CITES can
provide protection for sharks by regulating or banning
international trade.
CITES provides three levels of protection for listed
species. The highest level is Appendix I, which
essentially bans international commercial trade.
Appendix II requires that trade is monitored, which
can result in controls being put in place if trade is
found to be detrimental to wild populations. Most
CITES-listed species are included under Appendix II.
CITES is a strong conservation agreement because it
is binding on member countries. Countries can give
heavy penalties to people found smuggling listed
animals or plants across international borders.
Member countries have shown considerable
resistance to listing marine species including
sharks under CITES, especially species that are
commercially valuable. Two thirds of member
countries must vote for a species to be listed under
Appendix I and II, and too often economic interests
win over environmental concerns. As of 2011 only
three shark species are included under CITES, all
under Appendix II:
Basking Shark (2002)
Whale Shark (2002)
Great White Shark (2004)
Countries can officially register a reservation on a
species listing so that it does not apply to them. A
handful of countries have registered reservations on
the above sharks.
Proposals to list spiny dogfish and porbeagle
sharks under Appendix II were defeated at CITES
conferences in 2007 and 2010, and proposals to list
hammerheads and oceanic whitetip sharks under
Appendix II were rejected in 2010.
Whale shark and diver
Member countries have
shown considerable
resistance ..... too often
economic interests win
over environmental
concerns
Key management strategies that can protect sharks .....
Managing threats and recognising values
18
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
Marine Protected Areas are spaces in the ocean
where human activities are more strictly regulated.
MPAs can protect marine life from extractive
industries such as fishing, mining and collecting for
the aquarium trade. MPAs are known by a variety
of names such as marine parks, aquatic reserves,
marine reserves and sanctuary zones.

MPAs provide different levels of protection depending
on how they are established. Some MPAs are fully
protected no-take zones where all extractive activities
are banned, while others allow for multiple uses
through a system of zoning. Both systems have their
merits, but the IUCN suggests that large, multi-zoned
MPAs may provide greater protection than smaller
no-take areas.
Studies have shown that protecting bony fish in MPAs
allows them to recover from overfishing and results
in more fish in surrounding areas. MPAs have also
been shown to bring economic advantages to adjacent
communities through marine tourism. Despite this
only around 1% of the worlds ocean is protected by
MPAs; and less than one tenth of a percent of these
MPAs are fully protected no-take zones.
To be effective for shark conservation, MPAs need to
be positioned over key shark habitats such as places
where sharks congregate to mate or nursery grounds
where females give birth.
MPAs work best for sharks that have a limited range
and so do not regularly swim outside of the protected
area. They can be effective for migratory shark
species when they are part of a greater network of
MPAs designed to provide protection over the range
of habitats through which the sharks migrate.
Dive tourism is creating an incentive for many
countries to protect sharks in shark sanctuaries.
Palau banned shark finning and commercial shark
fishing within 50 nautical miles of its shores in 2003,
then extended these protections in 2009 making
its entire ocean territory a shark sanctuary. In
2010 the Maldives increased existing shark fishing
bans to include their entire ocean territory. In
2011 the Bahamas and Honduras both declared
their territorial waters to be shark sanctuaries, in
recognition of the value of sharks to the environment
and the economy.
Creating effective shark sanctuaries is a challenge.
Management, monitoring and enforcement require
extensive effort and funding. Host governments need
to patrol large areas to enforce the rules and punish
violators. In addition, commercial and artisanal
fishers should be compensated or provided with
alternate sources of income for shark sanctuaries to
be successful.
Dive tourism is leading to local and even national
protection for sharks, but tourism-driven shark
protection should always be backed up with
better fisheries management and enforcement of
regulations.
Key management strategies that can protect sharks .....
Managing threats and recognising values
19
Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU)
Fishing
Fisheries management failures result in what is
known as Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated
fishing.
A major driver for illegal fishing of sharks is the high
value of their fins. Requirements for sharks to be
landed with their fins naturally attached hold promise
to reduce illegal finning.

Most of the worlds shark fisheries are loosely
managed or completely unregulated. Therefore the
level of illegal shark fishing may not be very high; not
necessarily because fishers dont break the rules, but
because there are few rules to break.
For example there are no EU or international catch
limits on mako and blue sharks, the main shark
species targeted by fishers from Spain, which ranks
among the top five shark fishing nations in the world.
The top two shark fishing nations Indonesia and
India do not impose any shark catch limits on their
large fleets of small-scale fishers.
The lack of species-specific reporting of shark catch
is a huge hindrance to shark population assessments
and conservation worldwide.
Fiona Ayerst/Marine Photobank Bull sharks with diver
Key management strategies that can protect sharks .....
Managing threats and recognising values
20
Sharks provide economic benefts to countries
and to local communities as a source of food and as
tourist attractions.
Sharks provide an income or protein for many people
and will continue to do so if fished at a sustainable
level. The problem is not that we are fishing for
sharks; the problem is that in most cases we are
overfishing sharks.
Some populations of sharks are valuable as a tourist
attraction. Sharks repeatedly rank number one in
surveys of the marine animal that dive tourists most
want to see. Studies have shown that live sharks
close to tourism centres can have a far greater
economic value to a country over a longer period of
time than the one-time value of selling their fins and
meat.
In Palau sharks are estimated to bring $18 million
per year into the economy through dive tourism.
One reef shark over its lifetime will earn the country
an estimated US$1.9 million compared to a one-off
income of US$108 when fished.
In the Maldives each live grey reef shark is worth an
estimated US$3,300 per year through dive tourism
and as much as US$33,500 at the most popular sites.
The same shark has a one-off value of US$32 when
fished.
In the Bahamas sharks have brought an estimated
US$800 million into the economy through tourism
over a twenty year period. A single reef shark is
estimated to be worth US$250,000 over its lifetime. If
fished the same shark would earn only US$50-60.
Global whale shark tourism was valued at US$47.5
million in 2004. In The Canary Islands shark and ray
tourism supports an estimated 429 jobs and earns
the region an estimated 17.7 million annually. In
South Africa diving with great white sharks brought
in US$4.1 million in 2003 and diving with tiger sharks
earned US$1.8 million in 2007.
Dive tourism can improve peoples appreciation
of sharks and turn them into advocates for shark
conservation. This can lead to improved protection for
shark species not usually associated with diving, such
as those in international waters.
The problem is not that we are shing for sharks;
the problem is that in most cases
we are overshing sharks
Value of sharks to local economies
Managing threats and recognising values
21
Removing common misperceptions of sharks that are a barrier
to conservation
Managing threats and recognising values
Brandon Puckett/Marine Photobank
Sharks have an undeserved reputation of being
mindless killers. They are often portrayed as man-
eaters that show no mercy and should be given no
mercy. Media outlets often feed the publics fears by
sensationalising shark attack stories.
Humans have long feared being attacked by sharks
but it was the 1975 film Jaws that first portrayed
sharks as vengeful hunters of humans. Jaws
triggered an unprecedented retaliation on sharks as
people around the world took it upon themselves to
make the seas safer by killing sharks.
One of the barriers to gaining greater protection for
sharks is overcoming public perceptions that sharks
do not deserve to be protected. Since the release of
Jaws many conservationists, including the storys
author Peter Benchley, have worked hard to restore
the sharks reputation.
A clear understanding of the likelihood of being
attacked by a shark is a first step to overcoming our
misperceptions. The International Shark Attack File
(ISAF) is a compilation of all known shark attacks. In
2010 ISAF reported 79 unprovoked shark attacks on
humans, only six of them were fatal.
ISAF states that shark attacks have levelled off over
the last 30 years to an average of 63.5 per year, but
notes that the rapidly growing human population
could be masking a drop in shark attacks. Each year
there are more people in the water and so there
should be more shark attacks. ISAF states that falling
shark populations could partly explain why shark
attacks have not become more frequent with the
growing human population.
Poor knowledge of the great variety of shark species
is another barrier to protecting them. Of roughly 500
species only about ten are implicated in unprovoked
attacks on humans. Bull, tiger, and white sharks are
responsible for most attacks. The majority of shark
species have never bitten a human.
Sharks are often thought of as man-eaters. In fact it
is rare for a shark to attack a person and even rarer
for a shark to eat a live human. Most shark attacks on
humans are thought to be mistakes or explorations.
These attacks consist of an exploratory bite during
which the shark discovers we are not their normal
food. In most cases the shark then leaves the victim
unmolested. The unfortunate reality is that one
exploratory bite from a large shark can be fatal. Still,
it is clear that under normal circumstances sharks do
not seek humans to eat.
Another way of clearing our perceptions is to
understand that when we swim in the ocean we are
entering the sharks home. Few would be surprised
or outraged if someone walking across the Serengeti
in Africa was attacked by lions. Yet, when a swimmer
is attacked by a shark it often provokes a great
backlash. But the ocean is the sharks home just as
much as the Serengeti is the lions home. We need
to understand that when we are in the water we are
in the sharks environment, not ours. We are free to
take the risk if we choose, but we shouldnt blame the
shark if an incident occurs.
22
Everyday Actions
Get involved
Support Project AWAREs work that seeks greater protection for sharks
www.projectaware.org/project/sharks-peril
Find resources here
www.projectaware.org/category/resource-zone/sharks
Make personal changes to protect sharks
Write a personal pledge or action plan on how you will protect sharks in the future
Join campaigns
Write a letter to your countrys Fisheries Minister and Environment Minister letting them know you
support shark conservation
Support Marine Protected Areas
Read about Project AWAREs involvement in marine park campaigns
www.projectaware.org
Research marine park campaigns in your area and support them. Register for online newsletters,
sign petitions and make public submissions. You have a powerful voice in persuading politicians to
act.
Tell others
Spread the word about the importance of shark conservation
Encourage friends to take this course
Share with others everything you learned in this course
Tell your shark conservation stories through Project AWAREs My Ocean or other online networks
such as Facebook and Twitter
Respond to alarmist media stories
Write to the editor to correct factual errors and ask for balanced reporting
Support Project AWARE
Join the Movement - join thousands of divers around the world protecting our ocean planet one
dive at a time. Visit www.projectaware.org to join the movement.
Donate to support a clean, healthy and abundant ocean
www.projectaware.org/donate
You have learned a great deal about the damage being done to shark populations. Now is your chance to help
protect the sharks. Following are actions you can take for sharks. Get involved in these activities and encourage
other people to join you.
Taking action and joining the
Project AWARE movement
Personal actions you can take to protect sharks
Taking action and joining the Project AWARE movement
23
Tread lightly on the planet
Reduce and offset your carbon emissions
Rethink, reduce, reuse and recycle
Purchase Decisions
If you choose to eat seafood
Only eat seafood, including shark meat, from sustainable fisheries and organically certified
aquaculture
See links to sustainable seafood guides for many countries in Resources
Find out which seafood products contain shark and avoid them
Look for eco-labels on fish products such as Dolphin Friendly or Marine Stewardship Council
Let restaurant owners know you only eat seafood from sustainable sources
Choose not to eat shark fn soup
Let restaurant owners know you will not eat in their restaurant if they have shark fin on the menu
Avoid purchasing items that contain shark products
Includes souvenirs, medicines, leather goods, jewellery, shark oil and others
Tell store owners about the issues and why you refuse to buy these items
Support genuine ecotourism operations
Stay at locally owned resorts and use locally owned businesses so that more of your money stays
in the country and supports the local economy. This reinforces the value of natural assets that
attract tourists, such as sharks.
Look for resorts that treat sewage and wastewater and dispose of rubbish properly
Be an AWARE Diver
Make your dives count
Use your diving skills to increase knowledge of impacts to the marine environment
Participate in Project AWAREs Dive Against Debris survey
Monitor coral bleaching through the CoralWatch program
Personal actions you can take to protect sharks .....
Taking action and joining the Project AWARE movement
Be an AWARE diver
Follow Project AWARES Ten Ways A Diver Can Protect
The Underwater Environment and Ten Tips for Underwater
Photographers
Choose to dive with operators who use moorings or drift dive
techniques rather than anchors
24
You can fnd the conservation status of sharks
in your local area or at your dive destination by
searching the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species:
www.iucnredlist.org/
Search the database using the scientific name or
common name. You are more likely to find the shark
you are looking for by using the scientific name. You
can retrieve a list of all included sharks by typing the
word shark into the search field.
Find the conservation status of your local sharks
Csaba Tokolyi/Marine Photobank
Want to know more about sharks in your region or
at your travel destination? Then contact a PADI Dive
Centre to complete your AWARE Shark Conservation
Diver Distinctive Specialty Course. Your PADI
Instructor will introduce local sharks and tell you
about their conservation status. During your training
dives you will use the AWARE Shark Conservation
Guide To Impacts on Sharks to appraise the location
for potential impacts on sharks or features that may
help protect sharks. If sharks are seen during your
training dives you will identify them by species name.
The AWARE Shark Conservation program is also
available to non-divers. You will learn about local
sharks and how you can help reduce impacts. You
may complete a land-based appraisal of impacts
using the AWARE Shark Conservation Guide To
Impacts on Sharks. Complete the program to have
your achievement recognised with an AWARE Shark
Conservation Program Participation Certifcate.
Contact your local PADI Dive Centre for details.
Discover the sharks in your region
Taking action and joining the Project AWARE movement
25
Project AWARE Foundation is a global movement of
scuba divers protecting the ocean planet - one dive
at a time. Focused on the critical issues of Sharks in
Peril and Marine Debris, Project AWARE empowers
thousands of divers in more than 180 countries to
work together for a clean, healthy and abundant
ocean planet.
Project AWAREs powerful movement for ocean
protection starts with you.
Join the Movement
The ocean is fighting for its life. But divers are a
powerful, growing force who can give the ocean a big
voice. Divers are acting in their own communities and
favourite dive sites every day to tackle impacts on the
marine environment.
Visit www.projectaware.org and join the movement to
discover actions and opportunities to support ocean
protection in your local community and on a global
scale.
Battle the Big Two
Divers around the world are focussed on two major
ocean protection issues:
Shark decline, and
Marine debris, or rubbish in the ocean
Project AWARE is zoning in on these two issues
where scuba divers are uniquely positioned to make
long-term change. Project AWARE is tackling these
issues on three fronts: ongoing underwater action,
leading grassroots change and influencing effective
environmental policies.
Many shark populations are on the brink of collapse
and a growing number of AWARE divers will no
longer stand for unsustainable fishing practices.
You can help by telling others about this shark
conservation course, frequently checking the shark
Issues & Projects pages on Project AWAREs website,
spreading the word and taking action.
Join the global movement of Project AWARE divers
Taking action and joining the Project AWARE movement
Mayan Divers, Honduras Dive Against Debris
Project AWAREs powerful movement
for ocean protection starts with you
26
Divers are critical to addressing marine debris issues
underwater. Cleanups are important community
actions but theyre not the only answer. You can
help by reporting data about the debris you find
underwater through Project AWAREs Dive Against
Debris program. Your involvement will shine a light
on debris issues and help reduce its devastating
impacts on marine life. Project AWARE has the tools
and training to get you started.

My Ocean
My Ocean is Project AWAREs unique eco-networking
site where dive centers and AWARE leaders are
taking action for ocean protection. Here, they manage
local conservation events, report data and connect
with passionate volunteers like you. You can explore
My Ocean by creating a profile, volunteering for
events and finding like-minded dive buddies in your
community.

Be an AWARE DIver
Visit www.projectaware.org to find the latest calls to
action, petitions and activities centered on our ocean
planet. Think ocean protection every time you dive
and report the data that is so important for our cause.
Together, we can re-think whats possible and
share a positive vision for our ocean future. Join the
movement to protect our ocean planet one dive at a
time - www.projectaware.org
Join the global movement of Project AWARE divers .....
Taking action and joining the Project AWARE movement
Create your own My Ocean profile and join the global movement of
divers caring for our ocean
Your
Profile
Your
Blogs
Your
Buddies
AWARE Shark Conservation Study Guide 27
Resources and References
Responsible Environmental Guidelines for Diving With Sharks 28
Guide To Impacts On Sharks 29
Knowledge Review 31
Web-based Resources 33
10 Ways a Diver Can Protect the Underwater Environment 35
Selected References 36
AWARE Shark Conservation Study Guide 28
Responsible Environmental Guidelines
for Diving With Sharks
Be an AWARE diver:
Follow AWAREs Ten Ways A Diver Can
Protect The Underwater Environment
Follow AWAREs Ten Tips for Underwater
Photographers
Complete further training such as Peak
Performance Buoyancy or Underwater
Naturalist courses to improve your skills
and expand your knowledge of underwater
environments.
Do not block their movement by swimming in
front of them, allow them to move away
Do not block their exit if they are inside a cave
or overhang
Do not descend on top of sharks
Do not get close to sharks
Be familiar with and follow local regulations
and protocols
Note: these environmental guidelines do not provide safety guidelines for diving with sharks. Following these
environmental guidelines will enable you to minimise your impacts on sharks when diving with them. These
guidelines do not, and are not intended to, eliminate the risks of diving with sharks. Always seek safety advice
from a dive professional familiar with sharks found at the dive site before diving with sharks.
When diving with sharks avoid actions that may disrupt natural behaviour or damage the environment. When you
see sharks they may be feeding, resting or courting. Disrupting these natural behaviours may affect their health
or interrupt an opportunity to reproduce, and may subject divers to risk of serious injury or death.
Follow these environmental guidelines when diving with sharks:
AWARE Shark Conservation Study Guide 29
AWARE Shark Conservation
Guide to Impacts on Sharks
Use this guide to assess your dive location for features and characteristics that may have
negative or positive impacts on sharks. This exercise need not be limited to the dive site; it can
take place in as broad a geographic region as you choose. These are only some of the potential
impacts to sharks; add additional impacts to this list that are found in your location.
Positive Impacts How
Marine Protected Areas No-take MPAs give sharks a safe haven to replenish their populations
National Parks National Parks that protect coastlines also protect mangroves and other
key shark habitats
Sewage and wastewater
treatment plants
Reduces the amount of nutrients entering the water
Waste management facilities Gross Pollutant traps prevent rubbish/litter in streams and stormwater
drains from entering the ocean
Litter education programs Reduction in public littering on land leads to less marine debris
Dive tourism Places an economic value on protecting some shark species
Increases public awareness of shark threats and builds a desire to protect
sharks
Builds an incentive for countries to create shark sanctuaries
Ecotourism Reduced environmental impacts through waste reduction and sewage
management
Tourism revenue remains in the host country thereby reinforcing the value
of natural assets
Educates guests about conservation issues
Conservation groups Raises public awareness of environmental concerns
Builds community support for environmental conservation
Lobbies government to increase protection
Opposes harmful developments
Mooring lines Protects substrates from anchor damage
Active dive community Strong voice in campaigns for marine protected areas
Divers can improve public awareness of shark issues through stories and
photographs
Improve shark habitats through underwater marine debris removal
Divers become advocates for marine conservation
Increased diver knowledge of issues through training courses and dive
trips
Land-based volunteer groups Complete foreshore cleanups resulting in a cleaner ocean
Complete mangrove and other habitat restoration work resulting in
healthier coastal habitats
AWARE Shark Conservation Study Guide 30
Negative Impacts How
Fishing (all types including
dynamite and cyanide)
Sharks caught as target species or as bycatch
Decrease in potential prey as fishing reduces fish populations
Disturbance to marine ecosystems results in less healthy habitats
Coastal development Removal of mangroves destroys shark habitats and nurseries
Decrease in ecosystem health through increased sedimentation, nutrients
and pollution
Human population growth Increased demand for shark products
Increased demand for seafood
Increased demand for coastal developments
Increased recreational fishing activity
Disturbance to normal behaviour through increased boat traffic
Aquaculture Farms Removal of mangroves to make way for aquaculture farms
Pollution of ecosystems from antibiotics used to keep fish stocks healthy
Increased nutrients from feed and faeces
Reduction in marine ecosystem health
Decrease in potential prey as wild fish are caught to feed aquaculture
animals
Sewage outfalls Increased nutrients lead to algae blooms and other ecosystem impacts
Offshore mining Potential for a major impact from oil spill (or other substance)
Disturbance to normal behaviour through increased boat traffic
Heavy industry Increased ocean pollution
Sharks have high concentrations of mercury (an industrial waste product)
in their bodies
Farming Increase of nutrients in the water through fertiliser run off, leads to algae
blooms and other ecosystem impacts
Pollution of water due to pesticide run off
Land clearance Removal of trees leads to increased soil sediments in the water that
smother marine life and reduce visibility
Swimmer protection devices Beach nets and baited drumlines catch and kill sharks of all species
including those not a danger to humans
They also catch and kill potential prey species such as dolphins, turtles
and rays
Global climate change Increased sea temperatures, changing ocean currents and increased
storm ferocity will have many negative impacts on marine ecosystems
Coral bleaching (due to increased
sea temperatures)
Reduction in coral reef health
Reduction in coral reef ability to support a large and diverse marine life
community
Marine debris Sharks ingest or become entangled in marine debris
Sharks are caught in ghost nets
Reduction of prey species through ingestion or entanglement
Anchor use Destroys substrates impacting on the food chain
Aquarium collecting Removal of juvenile sharks for aquariums
Reduction in the health of marine ecosystems
AWARE Shark Conservation
Guide to Impacts on Sharks
AWARE Shark Conservation Study Guide 31
AWARE Shark Conservation
Knowledge Review
Answer the following questions. Your instructor will review your answers with you.
1. What are the unique physical attributes of sharks that can be used to tell them apart from bony fish?
a. Skeleton made from cartilage
b. Lack of a swim bladder
c. Exposed gill slits
2. Fill in the missing information in the following table.
3. List the life history traits that make sharks vulnerable to overfishing.
a. It takes them a long time to reach sexual maturity
b. They have long gestation periods (one to two years)
c. They have a small number of offspring (pups)
d. They breed only every second or third year
4. List three reasons why sharks are important to marine ecosystems.
a. They keep a balance among prey species
b. They remove sick, injured and diseased animals
c. They protect seagrass beds from over-grazing
5. Fill in the blanks in the following sentence:
Overfishing is the main cause of the rapid decline in shark populations. It is mostly due to
overfishing that many shark species are threatened with xtinc t ion.
6. List three key management strategies that can protect sharks.
a. International Plan of Action-Sharks (IPOA-Sharks)
b. Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs)
c. v
7. Name two ways in which sharks contribute to local economies.
a. As a source of food
b. As tourism attractions
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Red List Review of 1044 Shark, Ray and Chimaera Species
Critically Endangered 2% Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild
Endangered 4% Very high risk of extinction in the wild
Vulnerable 11% High risk of extinction in the wild
Near Threatened 13% Close to qualifying or likely to qualify for a threatened category in
the near future
Least Concern 23% Not qualifying as Threatened including widespread and
abundant species
Data Deficient 47% More information required for assessment
AWARE Shark Conservation Study Guide 32
8. Describe how your personal perceptions of the relationship between sharks and humans have
changed as a result of taking this course.
No correct or incorrect answer. Statements written here may help you (the instructor) refine your teaching
approach on future courses.
9. List five personal actions you could now take to protect sharks.
10. Name sharks found in your local area (or those sharks introduced to you by your instructor) and
list their conservation status.
Answers here should correspond to the information you (the instructor) gave your students about local
sharks
11. List responsible environmental guidelines for diving with sharks.
a. Be an AWARE diver
b. Do not touch, chase or harass sharks
c. Do not block their movement by swimming in front of them, allow them to move away
d. Do not block their exit if they are inside a cave or overhang
e. Do not descend on top of sharks
f. Do not get close to sharks
g. Be familiar with and follow local regulations and protocols
12. Name the two major ocean protection issues that Project AWARE is tackling and the social media
platform through which you can connect with Project AWAREs worldwide movement of divers.
a. Shark Decline
b. Marine Debris
c. My Ocean
Student Statement: Ive completed this Knowledge Review to the best of my ability and any questions I
answered incorrectly or incompletely Ive had explained to me, and I understand what I missed.
a. Get involved
b. Make personal changes to protect sharks
c. Join campaigns
d. Support Marine Protected Areas
e. Tell others
f. Respond to alarmist media stories
Name Date
h. Tread lightly on the planet
i. Choose sustainable seafood
j. Choose not to eat shark fin soup or shark meat
k. Avoid purchasing items that contain shark products
l. Support genuine ecotourism operations
m. Make your dives count
n. Be an AWARE diver
a. er
b. R
c. Fin
d. Con
e. dfh
a. er
b. R
c. Fin
d. Con
e. dfh
AWARE Shark Conservation Study Guide 33
Web-based Resources
Project AWARE
Sharks In Peril
www.projectaware.org/project/sharks-peril
Get involved in Project AWAREs work to gain greater protection for sharks.
Sharks In Peril Resources
www.projectaware.org/category/resource-zone/sharks
Resources to help you protect sharks; petition sheets, posters, web banners and more.
Other Resources
www.projectaware.org/category/resource-zone/other
Further Project AWARE resources to help you protect our ocean planet including Ten Ways A
Diver Can Protect the Underwater Environment, Ten Tips for Underwater Photographers and Project
AWARE, Our World Our Water.
Shark Identifcation and Information
Shark Foundation
www.shark.ch/Database/
Search for shark information using scientific names as well as English, German, French and
Spanish common names. Website available in English and German.
ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research
www.elasmo-research.org/education/ecology/id-guide.htm
Comprehensive listing of known shark species and a flowchart style identification guide. Use
pictures and key body features to identify your shark.
The Shark Trust
www.sharktrust.org/v.asp?level2id=6160&rootid=6160&depth=1
Shark database, factsheets and ID guides plus much more shark information.
Marine Species Identifcation Portal
http://species-identification.org/index.php
An online version of the UNESCO publication Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the
Mediterranean. Use the search facility or to browse shark listings click on Fishes - Rays, Skates
and Sharks in the left column.
Australian Museum
http://australianmuseum.net.au/animalfinder/Shark-ray-and-chimaera-finder
Information on 62 species of sharks, rays and chimaeras found in Australian waters. Many also
found worldwide.
Shark Alliance
www.sharkalliance.org/content.asp?did=35766
Download a guide to European sharks plus lots of other shark information.
AWARE Shark Conservation Study Guide 34
Canadian Shark Research Laboratory
www.marinebiodiversity.ca/shark/english/key.htm
Identification key to 19 species of sharks found in waters around Atlantic Canada.
Shark Threats, Management and Conservation
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
www.iucnredlist.org/
Find the conservation status of each shark on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species including
distribution, habitats and threats.
Shark Specialist Group, IUCN
www.iucnssg.org/index.php/conservation
Information on many topics covered in this course, including fisheries management and finning.
Look under Publications for global and regional status reports.
Shark Advocates International
www.sharkadvocates.org
Provides leadership in advancing science-based national and international shark conservation
policies, and is a reliable source for shark and ray related information.
International Plan of Action for Conservation and Management of Sharks, FAO
www.fao.org/fishery/ipoa-sharks/about/en
Information on the IPOA-Sharks that aims to ensure the conservation and management of
sharks and their long-term sustainable use.
International Shark Attack File
www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/isaf/isaf.htm
Read the facts about shark attacks.
Sustainable Seafood Guides
Marine Stewardship Council
www.msc.org/
Marine Stewardship Council runs an ecolabelling and certification program to help you choose
sustainable fish products. Find which seafood products are certified by clicking on the map.
Australia: Australian Marine Conservation Society
www.amcs.org.au/Sustainable-Seafood-Guide-Australia.asp?active_page_id=695
UK: Marine Conservation Society
www.fishonline.org/
USA: Monterey Bay Aquarium
www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/seafoodwatch.aspx
WWF: Guides for many countries and languages
wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/how_we_work/conservation/marine/sustainable_fishing/
sustainable_seafood/seafood_guides/
Country specific sustainable seafood guides in many languages, plus links to additional sources.
AWARE Shark Conservation Study Guide 35
Ten Ways a Diver Can Protect the
Underwater Environment
1. Dive carefully to protect fragile aquatic
ecosystems
Many aquatic organisms are delicate and can be
harmed by the bump of a camera, the swipe of a fin
or even the gentle touch of a hand. Some aquatic
organisms like corals grow very slowly and breaking
even a small piece can destroy decades of growth. By
being careful you can prevent longterm damage to
magnificent dive sites.
2. Be aware of your body and equipment placement
when diving
Keep your gauges and alternate air source secured
so they dont drag over the reef or other vital habitat.
Control your buoyancy, taking care not to touch fragile
organisms with your body or equipment. You can do
your part and prevent injury to aquatic life every time
you dive.
3. Keep your dive skills sharp through continuing
education
Before heading to open water seek bottom time with
a certified professional in a pool or other environment
that wont be damaged. You can also refresh your
skills and knowledge with a PADI Scuba Review, PADI
Advanced Open Water Diver course or Project AWARE
Specialty course such as Peak Performance Buoyancy.
4. Consider how your interactions affect aquatic life
Avoid touching, handling, feeding or riding on aquatic
life. These actions may stress the animal, interrupt
feeding and mating behavior or provoke aggressive
behavior in normally nonaggressive species.
5. Understand and respect underwater life
Playing with animals or using them as food for other
species can leave a trail of destruction, disrupt local
ecosystems and rob other divers of their experiences
with these creatures. Consider enrolling in a PADI
Underwater Naturalist, AWARE Fish Identification or
Coral Reef Conservation Specialty course to better
understand sustainable interactions.
6. Be an ecotourist
Make informed decisions when selecting a destination
and choose Project AWARE Environmental Operators
or other facilities dedicated to sustainable business
practices. Obey all local laws and regulations and
understand your effect on the environment. Dont
collect souvenirs like corals or shells. Instead, take
underwater photos and follow Project AWAREs 10 Tips
for Underwater Photographers.
7. Respect underwater cultural heritage
Divers are privileged to access dive sites that are part
of our cultural heritage and maritime history. Wrecks
can also serve as important habitats for fish and
other aquatic life. Help preserve these sites for future
generations by obeying local laws, diving responsibly
and treating wrecks with respect.
8. Report environmental disturbances or destruction
As a diver, youre in a unique position to monitor the
health of local waters. If you notice unusual depletion
of aquatic life, injury to aquatic animals or strange
substances in the water, report these observations to
responsible authorities in your area.
9. Be a role model for other divers and nondivers
when interacting with the environment
As a diver, you see the underwater results of
carelessness and neglect. Set a good example in your
own interactions so that others can learn from you.
10. Get involved in local environmental activities and
issues
You can greatly affect your corner of the planet. There
are plenty of opportunities to support healthy aquatic
environments including Project AWARE conservation
and data collection activities like local beach and
underwater cleanups and CoralWatch monitoring,
supporting environmental
legislative issues, attending
public hearings on local
water resources, conserving
water or making responsible
seafood choices.
AWARE Shark Conservation Study Guide 36
Selected References
Anderson, R.C. & Ahmed, H., 1993. The Shark Fisheries of the Maldives. Ministry of Fisheries and
Agriculture, Republic of Maldives.
Burke et al, 2011. Reefs at Risk Revisited. World Resources Institute, Washington DC.
Camhi, D. et al (Ed.), 2007. The Conservation Status of Pelagic Sharks and Rays: Report of the IUCN
Shark Specialist Group Pelagic Shark Red List Workshop. IUCN Species Survival Commission
Shark Specialist Group. Newbury, UK.
Clarke, S. et al, 2006. Global estimates of shark catches using trade records from commercial
markets. Ecology Letters, Vol. 9, P. 11151126.
FAO, 2010. The State of the World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2010. Food and Agriculture
Organisation of the United Nations, Rome.
Fowler et al (Ed.), 2005. Sharks, Rays and Chimaeras: The Status of the Chondrichthyan Fishes.
IUCN/SSC Shark Specialist Group, Switzerland.
Gallaghera, A. & Hammerschlag, N., 2011. Global shark currency: the distribution, frequency, and
economic value of shark ecotourism. Current Issues in Tourism, Routledge.
M. Lack and Sant G. (2011). The Future of Sharks: A Review of Action and Inaction. TRAFFIC
International and the Pew Environment Group.
Vianna G.M.S. et al (2010). Wanted Dead or Alive? The relative value of reef sharks as a fishery and
an ecotourism asset in Palau. Australian Institute of Marine Science and University of Western
Australia, Perth.