Loading...
Publication
Does lack of knowledge lead to misperceptions? Disentangling the factors modulating public knowledge about and perceptions towards sharks
| Name: | Description: | Size: | Format: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.78 MB | Adobe PDF | |||
| 3.8 MB | Adobe PDF |
Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Identifying sources of variability in public perceptions and attitudes toward sharks can assist managers and conservationists with developing effective strategies to raise awareness and support for the conservation of threatened shark species. This study examined the effect of several demographic, economic and socioenvironmental factors on the quality of knowledge about and perceptions toward sharks in two contrasting
scenarios from northeastern Brazil: a shark hazardous coastal region and a marine protected insular area. Ordered logistic regression models were built using Likert data collected with a self-administered questionnaire survey (N = 1094). A clear relationship between education, knowledge and perceptions was found, with low education level and knowledge of sharks resulting in more negative perceptions toward these species.
Prejudice toward sharks stemmed as a potentially limiting factor because the positive effects of other variables such as affinity for nature and specific knowledge about sharks were superseded by the effects of negative prejudice. Other practical factors such as age, economic level, and gender, also influenced respondent’s knowledge and perceptions and could provide a guidance for optimizing socioenvironmental gains
relative to public engagement efforts. Results also suggested that populations inhabiting regions with high shark bite incidence likely require distinct outreach methods because some factors underlying knowledge and perception dynamics exhibited structural differences in their effects when compared to the trends observed in a marine protected area. Altogether, public perceptions and attitudes toward sharks could be feasibly
enhanced with educational development and nature experiencing strategies. Moreover, disseminating shark-specific knowledge across the society might catalyze support for the conservation of these species in a cost-effective way. This study provides a Frontiers in potentially useful socioenvironmental framework to deal with the human dimensions of shark management and to strengthen conservation policies aimed at promoting societal compliance with pro-environmental values, which is crucial to endow shark populations with effective protection from anthropogenic threats.
Description
FUNDING : This research was funded by the National Geographic Society Conservation Trust (ref. #C314-15), Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia –FCT (ref. UID/MAR/04292/2013), and the Integrated Programme of SR&TD “Smart Valorization of Endogenous Marine Biological Resources Under a Changing Climate” (ref. Centro-01-0145-FEDER-000018), co-funded by Centro 2020 program, Portugal 2020, and European Union through the European Regional Development Fund.
Keywords
Awareness Conservation Fernando de Noronha Likert questionaire Marine protected area OLR models Recife Shark hazard
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Afonso, A.S., Roque, P., Fidelis, L., Veras, L., Conde, A., Maranhão, P., Leandro, S. & Hazin, F.H.V. (2020) Does lack of knowledge lead to misperceptions? Disentangling the factors modulating public knowledge about and perceptions toward sharks. Front. Mar. Sci. 7:663. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2020.00663
Publisher
Frontiers Media