Abstract
 
Qualitative analysis is a common methodology for examining the media portrayal of sharks. Such research has highlighted how media outlets such as tabloid newspapers and infotainment organisations, commodify fear by perpetuating negative representation of sharks by wielding certain linguistic techniques. Despite the efforts of a growing body of individuals and institutions to change this harmful stereotype, it persists today. One notable advocate for change is Cristina Zenato, who, over three decades, has developed unconventional shark-human relationships, termed ‘shark-listening’, that disrupt and challenge the fear-based paradigm. A qualitative analysis of three UK newspapers was conducted over a one-month period in 2024. Additionally, a pilot study using snowball sampling recruited participants to re-headline three articles from their perspective, drawing on a reframing technique designed to engage readers interactively with the news. Borrowing from participatory research techniques, the results are analysed through anthrozoological, posthuman,  and shark-listening lenses.  This approach reveals how results examined through these lenses challenge the media’s use of fear of sharks in news and entertainment discourse and can help reframe the portrayal of sharks. 

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Conference program and references.

Abstract
 
The Bahamas is a popular destination for American-celebrated holidays like the 4th of July and Thanksgiving Day. Although it is illegal to fish sharks in the Bahamas, the number of hooks removed from Caribbean reef sharks by shark-listener, Cristina Zenato, increases during this time. The act of fishing for marine-animal bodies for entertainment is globally accepted as a popular element of human-animal recreational tourist activities. While human friends, and family members gather on shores or boats with refreshments and fishing equipment, poised for a day of enjoyment and human bonding, this normalised, often fiercely defended activity, directly aims to result in marine-animal injury or death. Since shark-fishing is illegal, it is currently uncertain whether these sharks are hooked inside or outside of Bahamian waters. However, illegal activity has been evidenced occurring within Bahamian waters, notably by an incident in 2020 when during their Bahamian vacation, an American family made headlines for illicitly catching, cooking, and consuming a shark on their vacation home BBQ. Within recreational fishing, there is a disregard that the targeted marine-animals may not only be bonded members of their own marine-animal families, but also integral parts of human-marine-animal bonds cultivated over time. One notable example of such interspecies-species bonds belongs to shark listener, Cristina Zenato and the group of sharks she has dived with for over 30 years. Drawing from interviews between Cristina and the author, this paper explores Cristina’s bonds with the sharks, the sharks’ injuries resulting from hooking, and the process of hook removal. It further explores Cristina’s feelings of anxiety due to the potential harm caused to sharks by recreational-fishing, and her grief and loss due to the unravelling of shark-human kinship bonds when sharks disappear, potentially owing to recreational-fishing activities undertaken to strengthen other bonds, namely those between humans. 

Conference book of abstracts and references.

Abstract: This presentation explores street-living feline welfare in Saudi Arabia. While many felines in Saudi Arabia are in human homes, a great number of cats live in the streets. This presentation frames the effects upon cats living and being abandoned on the streets, through the Five Animal Welfare Needs.

Abstract: The act of fishing for nonhuman-animal bodies for entertainment is an accepted and popular part of humananimal recreational tourist activities.This paper discussed how the anthropocentric attitudes of human-animal families completely dismiss the trauma brought upon their nonhuman-animal targets.

Abstract The relatively new academic discipline of anthrozoology adopts, adapts, and devises new methodological approaches to address questions concerning interactions between humans and other animals. Anthrozoology is inherently multi-disciplinary (encompassing methods and theories from more than one discipline) because the first generation of researchers were trained in a range of traditional disciplines, including anthropology, ethnology, sociology, psychology, ethology, biology, and zoology. Exeter is the first university in the world to establish an Anthrozoology PhD programme, with the first doctorate being awarded in 2017. As researchers coordinate their efforts, research becomes more cross-disciplinary (drawing upon knowledge and insights from two or more disciplines). Interdisciplinary research involves an integrative and reciprocally interactive approach that leads to a new level of thinking within each discipline.

Abstract: Shark watching is a global business. However, what happens when shark watching operators fail to consider individual shark protection in the process of making money and entertaining guests? The global shark diving industry generated an estimate of 314 million USD across 20 countries in 2013 (Cisneros-Montemayor et al. 2013), with this ‘blue economy’ expecting to rise to twice that amount in by 2033. In 2020 at least 42 countries (Healy et al. 2020) and 500,000 divers (Topelko and Dearden 2005) took part in shark watching. Although shark protection due to this ‘blue’ economy is still difficult to monitor globally (Topelko and Dearden 2005), shark watching has contributed to their increased shielding from anthropocentric killings (Topelko and Dearden 2005). However, what happens when shark watching operators fail to consider individual shark protection in the process of making money and entertaining guests?

Abstract: Much academic literature looks at domestic cats outside home environments through an anthropocentric lens, as objects categorised for human control purposes.  This paper, in line with EASE aim iii attempts to consider the perspective of cats through their experiences as street-living cats. This article questions how human-constructed cat categories fail to consider cat biographies, personalities, agencies ...

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Abstract: This presentation explores street-living feline welfare in Saudi Arabia. While many felines in Saudi Arabia are in human homes, a great number of cats live in the streets. This presentation frames the effects upon cats living and being abandoned on the streets, through the Five Animal Welfare Needs.