Latest Scientific Research Publications

Impact of shark-feeding tourism on surrounding fish populations off Moorea Islan
Matthias Vignon, Pierre Sasal, Ryan L. Johnson and Renéé Galzin (in press) Impact of shark-feeding tourism on surrounding fish populations off Moorea Island (French Polynesia). Journal of Marine Freshwater research.
Coastal swimming patterns of white sharks at Mossel Bay
Johnson, R., Bester, M.N., Dudley, S.F.J., Oosthuizen, W.H., Meÿer, M.A., Hancke, S. & Gennari, E. (2009) Coastal swimming patterns of white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) at Mossel Bay, South Africa. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 85(3):189-200.
Concordance of genetic and fin photo identification in the great white shark of Mossel Bay
Gubili, C., Johnson, R., Gennari, E., Oosthuizen, w.H., Kotze, P.G.H., Meÿer, M.A., Sims, D.W., Jones, C.S. & Noble, L.R. (2009) Concordance of genetic and fin photo identification in the great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, of Mossel Bay, South Africa. Marine Biology Published on-line first.
Encounters between white sharks and Cape fur seals in a shallow channel
R. Johnson, T. Keswick, M.N. Bester and W.H. Oosthuizen (2008) Encounters between white sharks and Cape fur seals in a shallow channel. Journal of the Marine Biological Association - Biodiversity Records, Published on-line.
White shark abundance: not a causative factor in numbers of shark bite incidents
Kock A., Johnson, R.L., Bester M.N., Compagno L., Cliff G., Dudley S., Gennari E., Griffiths C.L., Kotze D., Laroche K., Meyer M.A., Oosthuizen W.H. and Swanson, S. (2006). White shark abundance: not a causative factor in numbers of shark bite incidents. In: Nel D.C. & Peschak T.P. (eds.): Finding a balance: white shark conservation and recreational safety in the inshore waters of Cape Town, South Africa - proceedings of a specialist workshop. WWF South Africa Report Series - 2006/Marine/001: 1-19.

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Contact Marine Explorer Ryan Johnson

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Impact of eco-tourism on sharks

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About the Project

One of the most contentious issues concerning shark management in South Africa is shark diving, or more importantly baiting and chumming as part of shark tourism. From free diving with tiger sharks to cage diving with great whites, these industries remain controversial, with many people claiming the activity augments the danger sharks represent to humans. Since 2001, I have been researching this issue through performing behavioral experiments and placing scientific observers on shark diving vessels.

This work lead to the 2006 specialist conference called ‘Finding a Balance’ in which the research was the basis of determining the impact of cage diving on white sharks in the Southern cape of South Africa. Although this challenging study could never make everyone happy, attempting to take the emotion out of the arguments and replace them with data and science is the job of all scientist.