Source: Nature: "The Secret World of Sharks and Rays"
Major corporate support for the Nature collection was provided by Canon U.S.A. and SC Johnson. Additional support was provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the nation’s public television stations.
Shark diving expeditions that offer people an opportunity to swim with sharks are seen by some conservationists as a tool to educate the public about their ecological importance. The remarkable, breathtaking encounters that many ecotourists experience swimming with sharks often foster a greater appreciation for the much maligned marine animal. In this video segment from Nature, learn about the ecological value of shark diving expeditions.
Transcript (Document)
Sharks and their biological cousins, the rays, are among the highest-profile denizens of the deep. But sharks are not the solitary killing machines that popular movies and the press might have us believe. In their marine environment, sharks coexist with numerous other species - many of whom flock to be near the sharks, rather than running from them in fear. In many of these cases, the interaction between two different species mutually benefits each species. But humans, too, have become an increasingly important player in the lives of sharks - and as they are increasingly hunted for their fins, sharks are actually becoming more endangered than they are dangerous. The impact on the marine ecosystem that would result from the disappearance of sharks would be devastating, but there is still time to save these magnificent creatures, and the ecosystems that depend on their existence.
Fortunately, there is another market -one that needs sharks alive.
Sharks themselves are the bait for ecotourists. When people pay to see sharks close up, these animals are worth hundreds of thou sands of dollars annually to a local economy.
Now it's possible for adventurous sport divers to join in the thrill of shark -diving expeditions in many places around the world.
For those who experience these sharks close up in the wild almost always leave with a much greater appreciation for all sharks.
At some resorts, the sharks are tagged in the hope that fishermen will recognize their true value to the community and release them back to the sea.