Considerable global attention has focused on the plight of sharks and the implications for ocean health. Scientists point to the importance of sharks for healthy ecosystems and the consequences of their disproportionate removal; yet legal and management responses vary considerably. In some states, negative human-shark interactions have led to shark culls and swimming bans, and have prompted public fears about future activities that might attract species closer to coasts and communities. In other countries, sharks are respected, conserved and utilized only as a non-consumptive marine-based tourism resource. This article argues that culture plays an important role in the variety of legal responses to the conservation and management of sharks. By examining the development of shark sanctuaries across the Indian and Pacific Ocean island states, this analysis highlights the legal approaches taken, and the varying socio-cultural values that have influenced these responses. Understanding the role of culture will remain important as these laws mature, because it may affect implementation, compliance, and ultimately the achievement of conservation outcomes.

中文翻译：

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印度-太平洋小岛屿国家鲨鱼保护和管理的法律途径

全球相当多的注意力都集中在鲨鱼的困境和对海洋健康的影响上。科学家指出鲨鱼对健康生态系统的重要性以及不成比例地清除鲨鱼的后果；然而，法律和管理层的反应却大相径庭。在一些州，人类与鲨鱼的负面互动导致了鲨鱼捕杀和游泳禁令，并引发了公众对未来可能吸引靠近海岸和社区的物种的活动的担忧。在其他国家，鲨鱼仅作为非消费性海洋旅游资源受到尊重、保护和利用。本文认为，文化在对鲨鱼保护和管理的各种法律反应中发挥着重要作用。通过研究印度洋和太平洋岛国鲨鱼保护区的发展，这一分析突出了所采取的法律方法，以及影响这些反应的不同社会文化价值观。随着这些法律的成熟，了解文化的作用仍然很重要，因为它可能会影响实施、合规以及最终实现保护成果。