Watching or catching sharks: Tracing the emergence of a marine resource conflict in the North Atlantic

Oceans are facing severe pressure from human activities, compromising the resilience of marine ecosystems. In response, blue economy initiatives aim to foster less extractive maritime sectors, yet emerging industries risk conflict with established ones over shared resources. One such challenge is the exploitation of pelagic shark species in the North Atlantic, particularly the blue shark ( Prionace glauca ) and the shortfin mako shark ( Isurus oxyrinchus ), which are caught by longline fisheries operating on the High Seas. Concurrently, these species have become key attractions for dive tourism in the Azores, raising concerns about the compatibility of shark fishing and ecotourism. This study examines the role of shark diving in Azorean marine tourism and assesses whether High Seas shark fisheries constitute a conflicting activity. Employing process tracing and semi-structured interviews, the study explores the origins and economic significance of shark diving in the Azores and evaluates the impact of fisheries by tracing three decades of shark catch volumes and related policy developments in the North Atlantic. While blue shark sightings in the Azores remain relatively stable, we identify a significant decline in shortfin mako sightings over the last decade, suggesting a causal effect of overfishing. Given the migratory, pelagic characteristics of the two species, this case documents a rare instance of an interest conflict between ecotourism and commercial fisheries in the North Atlantic. The findings offer valuable insights into blue sector conflicts and underscore the need for further exploration of these dynamics in relation to the EU’s Blue Growth initiative. • Pelagic sharks are popular for Azores diving but are also fished on the High Seas. • We examine the origins and drivers of shark diving and assess the impact of fisheries. • Results confirm sharks’ economic importance but also discover trends in abundance. • Blue shark sightings remain stable whereas mako sharks have declined significantly. • Findings provide new insights on marine resource conflicts in the North Atlantic.