Connor Cassidy has been working with sharks off the coast of Florida and the Bahamas for over a decade, becoming a world-renowned shark-feeder and diving guide. Contributor Jasmina McKibben interviewed him about his path from fascinated fear to awe, and examined the role that eco-tourism can play in the protection of a species that is both tragically misunderstood and crucial to the health of our oceans.

Many people enter the ocean hoping that it never happens to them—the idea dancing around in their head as they splash through chest deep water at the beach. The image of a dorsal fin, breaking the surface and heading towards them, flickers in their mind. Every piece of seaweed that brushes their leg is first believed to be rows of sharp teeth searching for a meal. Eventually imagination gets the best of them and forces a panicked retreat back to sandy safety.

For most, the idea of being in close proximity to a shark is the material of nightmares, but for a select few it is a dream come true. Connor Cassidy is one of those individuals, and not only does he enjoy being in the water with sharks, he has made it his profession to interact with these apex predators. Connor has worked with some of the most highly feared and misunderstood animals on the planet, facilitating peaceful encounters for those who are curious enough to step into his world.

Connor grew up fascinated with the ocean, having first explored underneath its surface at the age of four, when he went snorkeling in the Florida Keys. He sought to keep discovering what lay beneath the waves, eventually taking the next step and becoming a scuba diver at the age of 15. “I was 100% hooked from then on.” The azure waters of Cozumel, Mexico made it clear to Connor that his purpose in life existed underwater, and he could not fathom a life without the ocean and its creatures. “I decided at 17 that I was going to dive for a living and never looked back.” He moved to Florida at the age of 19 to forge a career in the dive industry, and has stayed for over a decade—mainly for the sharks.

Few animals on the planet evoke as strong a response from human beings as the shark. They have been a box office and television sensation since 1975, with the release of the notorious film “Jaws”. And since 1988, an entire week has been dedicated to them each year on Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week”. In the last decade alone, shark-attack blockbusters such as “47 Meters Down”, “The Shallows”, and “The Meg” have earned $360 million at the box office. As a society, we are obsessed with this species, but also live in fear of them.

Governments of coastal countries such as Australia have spent millions on building shark-nets at beaches. These nets are typically engineered to entrap sharks larger than 2m (6.5 ft), meaning that the more mature individuals that are capable of breeding are the ones predominately being killed. However, according to research from scientists such as Dr. Christopher Neff, “shark nets do not offer complete protection but work on the principle of ‘fewer sharks, fewer attacks’. They reduce occurrence via shark mortality.” If we were to apply the same logic to humans, this would be similar to building an electric fence around your house that delivered a fatal shock to anybody trying to cross it. Fewer people would be able to enter because they were dying whenever they came into contact with it. Presumably, this tragic killing of sharks is to keep popular beaches “safe” for the visiting throngs of humans. But is such a strong fear of sharks even warranted? Scientific evidence indicates that it is not. In 2019, 64 humans died worldwide as a result of “unprovoked attacks”, meaning an incident occurring in the shark’s natural habitat with no human provocation, feeding, or fishing of the shark. To put this figure into perspective, just 1% of the human population is equivalent to 75 million people, meaning that 64 deaths out of 7.58 billion is exceptionally low. On the other hand, research suggests that humans annually kill between 6.4% and 7.9% of sharks of all species.

Anecdotal evidence also supports the idea that shark behavior is far less aggressive and deadly than the narrative humans have created. When Connor was hired as a divemaster and mate on a liveaboard that ran weekly shark-diving trips to Tiger Beach in the Bahamas, he was unsure of what to expect. “The first time I jumped in at Tiger Beach with roughly 30 Lemon sharks and a Tiger, I was definitely a bit anxious…though within minutes of seeing their behavior towards people my fear turned into awe and then addiction.” He has spent time in the water with an envious list of species, some of which most people do not even know exist.

“I primarily work with Tiger sharks, Great hammerheads, Bulls, Lemons, and Reef sharks. I have also encountered Mako, Oceanic whitetips, Whalesharks, Silky, Dusky, Sandbar, Spinner, Blacktip, Bonnethead, and Atlantic sharpnose.” When asked about his preference for species, Connor takes a moment to think. “It’s hard to say a favorite species because one of my favorite things is diving with new shark species and learning their behaviors. However, if I had to pick one I would say the Tiger shark. They are so large, powerful, and intimidating by looks, yet can be so gentle and peaceful at times.”

When Connor dipped below the surface, he was immersed into a new perspective as he got to know the animals that he had been taught to fear. “I had a little fear about sharks in my young years, but I believe in replacing fear with knowledge. Once you learn about them, the fear turns into respect and admiration.” As his experience in shark tourism grew, so did his understanding of their behaviour and the differences between species, and even individual sharks of the same species.

“Some of my best encounters have been seeing the same sharks over and over for years and getting to know them as individuals. Having extremely gentle moments with large Tiger sharks, and pushy yet not aggressive moments with Hammerheads and Lemon sharks. And though I don’t recommend it for everyone, I enjoy beautiful moments when I am alone in the water—just me and the sharks. It is very peaceful and a form of meditation for me.”

Respect is a theme that Connor touches upon regularly. In nearly every reference to sharks, he uses the word respect. Although he has had immensely calm and gentle moments with these animals, remaining alert and humble to their abilities is critical while interacting with them. “I am not the type to call them puppy dogs. Far from it. You need to use proper procedures and precautions when diving with sharks and expect the unexpected while keeping your head on a swivel. I always recommend having a professional, EXPERIENCED guide.”

This blend of knowledge, experience, and respect is what has made Connor into a renowned shark-feeder. His talent and understanding have led to an impressive array of television networks, non-profits, and conservationists on his resume. Connor has worked on many productions, including shows on Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, Nat Geo Wild’s SharkFest, and many others, as well as with distinguished conservationists and photographers. Connor is one of the people that television networks, filmmakers, and conservationists call when they want to tell a story about sharks. “A recent highlight was working with National Geographic photographers Paul Nicklen and Cristina Mittermeier and their SeaLegacy Foundation on a project for shark conservation in the Bahamas and worldwide.” But for Connor it ultimately comes down to the sharks and working with photographers and filmmakers can benefit and protect them. “There are [so many] amazing people and organizations doing excellent work for shark conservation. [Working with conservationists such as Nicklen and Mittermeier] is dear to my heart because it is an important message to send and they are wonderful people with a wide audience.”

This emerging industry has propelled cage-free encounters with species such as Lemons, Great hammerheads, and Tiger sharks to a more mainstream audience, something unfathomable during the height of the “Jaws” hysteria. Originally, it was only the brave few photographers and scientists who got into the water with sharks, but human fear and fascination go hand-in-hand. The shark tourism industry in Florida and the Bahamas has grown quickly, as well as in areas such as South Africa, Fiji, and Australia. In 2016, shark-related diving in Florida generated over $221 million USD and employed over 3,700 people (including Connor), in comparison to the $1.03 million USD produced by the total shark fin export market in 2015. These figures present a strong argument in support of eco-tourism as a conservation tool for shark species, incentivizing governments to value sharks on an economic level, and passing legislation to protect a natural resource that brings in tourism revenue. Connor is a strong proponent of this idea, and sees his work creating a positive impact. “I consider myself a conservationist. I do my part by showing people first-hand how sharks really behave around humans. I’m able to do this by taking divers down to see [for themselves], and through the photos and videos I share online.”

Connor also expresses the importance of choosing a legitimate shark diving operator when engaging in this type of eco-tourism, and emphasizes the importance of selecting one with shark conservation and education at the forefront of their mission. “It’s a [good] thing for sharks that [diving with them] is becoming more popular, and a great thing for countries to learn that a shark is worth much more alive for eco-tourism than dead from fishing!”

Critics of this industry cite the potential for changed behavior and habitation toward humans, which has been supported by some scientific publications. However shark populations are being decimated at unprecedented rates, and tourism provides an economic incentive for the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs). Currently, only 7.43% of the world’s oceans are classified in this manner, leading to opportunities for unfathomable exploitation of non-protected areas by the commercial fishing industry. Marine eco-tourism is a driving force behind the implementation of MPAs, but empowering local communities to benefit from the potential economic gains is an important piece of the challenge.

In order for an eco-tourism venture to have success as a conservation tool, the economic gains from the industry must be flowing back into these communities. Shark diving has contributed nearly one billion dollars to the Bahamian GDP over the past 20 years, leading to the establishment of the Bahamas National Shark Sanctuary. It is crucial to the success of shark tourism that the facilitators of these encounters operate legally and pay the Bahamian government for permits and dues, as well as encourage guests to spend money in the Bahamian economy. Governments are motivated to care about the wellbeing of sharks when tourism income is contingent upon their survival, which is what led the Bahamian government to prohibit shark fishing and the trade of their products in 2011.

However, tourism is only one piece of a much greater solution, as it does not diminish the impact that the seafood industry has on sharks, with some commercial fishing vessels catching more sharks than their actual target species. Longline fishing for swordfish, tuna, and mackerel uses thousands of baited hooks hanging from a single line, often miles long, catching sharks as well. Shrimp are targeted using trawl nets—which are pulled through the water column or along the seabed, indiscriminately capturing sharks too. Practices such as these, fueled by our appetite for seafood, are responsible for the deaths of up to 100 million sharks per year worldwide. The human equivalent to this population loss would be tantamount to losing the entire population of Australia (25 million) FOUR times per year.

The importance of sharks within a marine ecosystem has become well known to the public, as additional research is conducted on the topic. In order for an ecosystem to thrive, the populations of apex predators must be intact, and the presence of sharks has become a strong indication of the overall health of a marine ecosystem. “Sharks shift the spatial habitat of their prey, which alters the feeding strategy and diets of other species. Through the spatial controls and abundance, sharks indirectly maintain seagrass and coral reef habitats. The loss of sharks has led to a decline in coral reefs, seagrass beds, and the loss of commercial fisheries.”

Connor is the first to share this information with those who ask him about shark conservation. “Because of the overfishing of sharks, there has been a massive decline in wild numbers, with many species becoming endangered and on the verge of extinction.”

It seems counterintuitive that the exact predator consuming fish would be the key to their survival, but scientific studies regarding fisheries support this theory. And with our fisheries supplying food to over three billion people worldwide, it’s clear how dire the global food supply situation will become if our fisheries continue to decline. Ironically, overcoming our fear of sharks, replacing that fear with knowledge, and valuing their protection is what could save us from a self-induced demise.

Photography:

• Andy Wallace – @acmwallace
• Connor Cassidy – @sharkmanconnor
• Greg Mooney
• Jasmina McKibben – @jasminamckibben
• Paul Nicklen – @paulnicklen
• Tomas Kotouc – @tomaskotouc

References:

1: Christopher Neff Consulting – https://www.christopherneff.com/our-work.html#wsb-element-00000000-0000-0000-0000-000704134258

2: Oceana – https://oceana.org/press-center/press-releases/new-report-finds-shark-related-diving-generated-over-221-million-florida

3: Oceana – https://eu.oceana.org/en/eu/our-work/marine-wildlife/sharks/learn-more/shark-bycatch

4. Washington Post – https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/fishing-is-pushing-sharks-closer-to-extinction/2013/03/01/8dd88eac-81e4-11e2-8074-b26a871b165a_story.html

5. Al Jazeera – https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/09/humans-killing-100-million-sharks-year-180923150037790.html

6. National Geographic – https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/onward/2013/03/01/100-million-sharks-killed-every-year-study-shows-on-eve-of-international-conference-on-shark-protection/

7. Florida Museum/University of Florida –https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/yearly-worldwide-summary/

8. MPAtlas.org – http://www.mpatlas.org/mpa/sites/9310/

9. Oceana – https://eu.oceana.org/en/importance-sharks-0

10. World Wildlife Fund –https://www.worldwildlife.org/industries/sustainable-seafood

11. Protected Planet – https://www.protectedplanet.net/marine