Global economic value of shark ecotourism

Amid declining shark populations due to overfishing, a burgeoning shark watching industry already well established in some locations generates benefits from their protection. We compile reported economic benefits at shark watching locations, and use a meta-analytical approach to estimate benefits at sites without available data. Results suggest that globally, about 590 thousand shark watchers generate expenditures of over 314 million USD per year, supporting 10 thousand direct jobs. By comparison, the landed value of global shark fisheries is currently about 630 million USD and has been in decline for most of the past decade. Based on current observed trends, shark watcher numbers could more than double within the next twenty years, generating over 780 million USD in expenditures around the world. This supports optimistic projections at new sites, including those in an increasing number of shark sanctuaries enacted in recognition of the ecological, and economic, importance of living sharks.