A team of professors from Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the University of Wollongong (UOW) have been awarded a grant by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) to study people’s attitudes towards sharks in order to help come up with shark management strategies in populated coastal areas.

Associate Professor Peter Simmons and Dr Michael Mehmet from CSU and Associate Professor Rod Clarke from UOW will use communication theory-based approaches to analyse social media content in order to better understand people’s attitudes towards sharks, what influences these attitudes, and what beliefs are particularly powerful or common. They will also draw research from interviews with individuals and stakeholder groups along the NSW coast.

‘Sharks and shark management on our coastline has become increasingly topical, and this research will help the DPI understand community sentiment concerning coexistence with sharks and strategies for managing sharks,’ Professor Simmons told the CSU News. ‘The better we understand community attitudes and beliefs the more effectively the department can represent those attitudes, and the more purposefully the department can communicate about the different options.’

While the study will look at prevailing attitudes towards sharks among a diverse range of public opinion, the researchers say that the ultimate aim is to help come up with a solution that minimises risks to surfers, swimmers and other ocean users, while also reducing harm to a variety of marine species.

‘It's important to hear from a range of different stakeholders. We will also conduct a series of interviews and focus groups with stakeholders – surfers, bathers, tourism operators, local government, lifesavers and others. We know we will find different attitudes to coexistence and management options,’ says Professor Simmons. ‘Our aim is to develop deep insights into different stakeholder perspectives, where they come from, and how they are evolving and influenced.’