Depredation & Shark Diving
What Is Depredation?
Depredation occurs when a shark or other predator removes or damages a fish that has been hooked or caught by an angler. It is a growing concern for recreational and commercial fishermen throughout Florida.
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It is hypothesized that shark diving increases depredation by teaching sharks to associate boats with food. However, current research does not support the conclusion that Florida’s shark diving industry is the primary driver of depredation.
What Does the Research Show?
Research shows that depredation rates vary significantly across Florida and are highest in the Florida Keys and western Florida Panhandle — areas where there are currently no established shark diving operations.
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Studies have also identified bull sharks and sandbar sharks as species most commonly associated with depredation. In contrast, lemon sharks are among the species most frequently encountered during Florida shark dives.
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These findings suggest that depredation is influenced by multiple factors and that the sharks most often encountered during shark dives are not necessarily the same species most frequently involved in depredation events.
Scale Matters
Shark Diving
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Operates within approximately 46.3 square miles off Palm Beach County
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Represents just 0.013% of Florida’s adjacent federal waters
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Approximately 2,160 shark diving trips annually
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Recreational Fishing
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Approximately 80 million fishing trips annually
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More than 2.4 million licensed saltwater anglers
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Over 1 million registered recreational boats
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The scale of fishing activity in Florida vastly exceeds the scale of shark-based ecotourism.
Other Factors Driving Depredation
Scientists believe depredation is influenced by multiple factors, including:
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Increased fishing pressure
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Habitat degradation
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Declining fish populations
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Growing coastal populations
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Increased boating activity
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Recovery of some shark populations
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Depredation is a complex issue that cannot be explained by a single cause.
The Bottom Line
Current scientific evidence does not support the claim that Florida’s shark diving industry is the primary cause of depredation.
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Addressing depredation will require science-based solutions that consider all contributing factors, rather than focusing on a small ecotourism sector operating in a tiny fraction of Florida’s waters.