The IUCN/SSC Shark Specialist Group
Shark News 5: October 1995
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The Role of Aquariums in the
Conservation of Sharks
Juan Sabalones, Senior Aquarist, National Aquarium in Baltimore,
Maryland, USA
Sharks have been a source of fascination for centuries. With a few
notable exceptions, the nature of most human contact with sharks was
likely to be brief and fraught with negative overtones. This led to much
speculation about what they were really like, most of it inaccurate. Only
recently has technology (scuba diving, submersibles, underwater
photography and cinematography) allowed us to observe sharks in the
wild and learn more about their true nature. Unfortunately, such first
hand observation is available only to a relatively small sector of the
public, with most of the rest relying on the media (print, film and
television). The only other place to observe sharks
first hand is at a public aquarium. In terms of a
shark conservation movement, this is where
aquariums can be most valuable.
Photo: National Aquarium in Baltimore, George Grall.
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One definition of conservation is "the planned
management of a natural resource to prevent
exploitation, destruction or neglect." It is
reasonable to expect that such management effort
needs public support as a major component. The
total number of people that attend public
aquariums in a year in North America alone is
over 100 million.These institutions are frequently
used by the media as information resources
because aquariums are in the business of educating
their audience by providing the most accurate,
well-informed picture of sharks available.
Aquariums, then, can significantly influence the
image of sharks beyond the millions of people
that walk through their doors. Helping to correct
the negative image of sharks and highlighting their positive aspects will
go a long way towards increasing public support for their conservation.
Several other species with similar concerns have benefited from such
image makeovers.
At the National Aquarium in Baltimore (NAIB), this desire to
upgrade the image of the shark affects our approach in several ways
In terms of exhibitry, it means dealing with the negative image by
highlighting the multifaceted nature of a very old, very successful class
of animal. This means explaining their role in the environment and
talking about their conservation needs. In terms of species displayed,
the impression that all sharks are large man-eaters such as Great Whites,
Bulls or Tigers can be corrected by displaying and highlighting the
smaller, more exotic looking sharks. This will emphasise the fascinating diversity of shark species and the fact that the vast majority of sharks are of the smaller, non-threatening type.
When educating the media and the public, all presentations on
sharks are divided into three parts. In the first part the negative image of
the shark is dealt with by using strategies such as discussing the
relatively low incidence of shark attacks, especially in comparison to
other animals (saltwater crocodiles, elephants, farm pigs and bees, for
example, kill more people per year). The second part stresses the
positive contributions and features of sharks, such as their importance
to the environmental balance. The third part deals with the conservation
needs of the shark. When properly rehearsed, this presentation can be
condensed to a few minutes or expanded to an hour lecture. If this
approach is consistently used during all contacts with the media and
the public, it soon becomes second nature.
Another way in which aquariums can promote the conservation
of the shark is through the promotion of research. Research into
better methods of husbandry is a good place to start. A recent report
to the IUCN by the Shark Specialist Group (SSG) noted that the impact
of aquariums on wild populations of sharks was insignificant.
Nevertheless, it is important to constantly strive for even higher
standards in the husbandry of sharks and to encourage captive
breeding. This will lessen the need to take them from the wild.
Another place to promote research is in areas of the wild used as
collecting sites. The NAIB participates in a National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS) shark tagging study. Over the last ten years we have
tagged and released nearly 200 sharks during the course of our
collecting trips. We (in cooperation with the NMFS) are also in the
preliminary stages of a population index of juvenile sandbar sharks in
the Delaware Bay. This Bay, which we have fished regularly for nearly
14 years, is an important nursery ground for juvenile sandbars and
sand tiger sharks.
The Shark Specialist Group of the IUCN is currently developing
a shark conservation Action Plan. As members of the SSG, we are
proposing to create a subsection of this group composed of
representatives of as many aquariums world-wide as are willing to
enlist. In this fashion those aquariums that display sharks can add
their input to the shark conservation movement.
Sharks are a proven draw for the public. At the NAIB the shark
exhibit has been the most popular exhibit for almost the entire history
of the aquarium. It is probable that this is also the case at most
institutions that display sharks. That popularity can be used to the
good advantage of the shark conservation movement.
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