Speaking (for) Sharks: Contested Expertise in Marine Conversation

In the latter half of the 20th century a series of conjunctures –technological, cultural, and scientific—thrust sharks and humans into unprecedented contact. This led to a new preoccupation with sharks, and an emergence of new stakeholder groups that sought to produce knowledge about them. Part of a larger work, this talk will focus specifically on conflicts that have emerged in response to new valuations of sharks. Beginning in the late 1980s, many shark species (particularly the superlative-inducing great white shark) have made the leap from unloved villain and unwanted vermin to charismatic megafauna and valued ecological actor. In the wake of this shift, various groups have argued over who best represents their interests. Conservationists, scientists, surfers, tourism operators, and filmmakers and many more have wrangled over who has the right to “speak” for sharks. Examining these conflicts illuminates unique aspects of knowledge production, contested expertise, and human attitudes toward marine spaces.

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