Contact: Andrew DeChellis
adechellis@rsmas.miami.edu
305-421-4612
University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science

Sharks and Ecotourism

Caption: A new study in Current Issues in Tourism authored by Austin J. Gallagher and Dr. Neil Hammerschlag of the R.J. Dunlap Marine Conservation Program studies the impact of sharks on coastal economies and the importance of including conservation efforts in long- term management plans. According to the study, in certain locations, a single reef shark could be valued at $73 a day alive, as opposed to the one-time value of a set of shark fins used for shark fin soup at $50. Over the course of that same shark’s life, it could be worth more than $200,000 using a conservative 15-year life cycle.

Credit: Austin J. Gallagher

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