Can ecotourism help sharks, or are we sometimes getting it wrong?

In this episode of Series 2, host Mark Stokes-Packer speaks with Dr Gonzalo Araujo, Founder and Director of MARECO Marine Research and Conservation Foundation. Together, they explore what shark ecotourism really means, how it differs from ordinary wildlife tourism, and why the details matter.

Gonzalo explains why good ecotourism should benefit sharks, local communities, and the wider marine environment. But he also looks at the risks. What happens when shark behaviour is changed? When does provisioning or overcrowding become a problem? And how do we decide where the line is between a positive wildlife encounter and one that causes harm?

This episode also looks at codes of conduct, tourist responsibility, local management, and why the same species may need different rules in different parts of the world. From Whale Sharks in Australia to Blue Sharks in the UK, Gonzalo shows why there is no one-size-fits-all answer.

Please like, share, subscribe, and leave a comment. If you have a question about Living with Sharks, drop it below and we can answer it in a future episode. Or email [email protected]

Follow Dr Gonzalo Araujo:
MARECO website
MARECO Instagram
Gonzo's Instagram

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Support our work by becoming a member, adopting a shark, donating, or taking part in our citizen science projects. You can do all of this by visiting sharktrust.org

Series 2 sponsored by SurfEars.
Artwork by rev.01 Studio.
Video and sound editing by Louis Hogan.
Research and planning by Cat Gordon and Mark Stokes-Packer.

Thank you for listening to the Shark Trust Podcast!

Our short-documentary "Living with Sharks: in the Bahamas" is available on YouTube.

Chapters

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Shark Ecotourism
00:27 Meet Dr Gonzalo Araujo
08:29 What Is Ecotourism?
10:13 Can Ecotourism Help Sharks?
13:10 Why Shark Tourism Works in Some Places and Not Others
15:02 Risks of Shark Tourism
19:03 How Tourism Can Change Shark Behaviour
24:15 Where Is the Red Line?
28:25 Animal Welfare and Ecosystem Function
29:36 Provisioning, Conditioning, and Long-Term Impacts
33:29 Codes of Conduct and Blue Shark Tourism
41:07 Creating Codes of Conduct with Operators
43:26 What Makes a Good Code of Conduct?
45:04 Enforcement, Licensing, and Responsibility
50:26 Planning Ahead for Shark Recovery
53:15 How to Choose Responsible Shark Tourism
57:13 Gonzalo’s Favourite Shark
59:30 Where to Find Gonzalo and MARECO