Aliyah Jane G.

Fugaban October 11, 2019

DMD-STEM1-DENT1E Ms. Generose Solas

Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara,
CA 93106, USA

Wolves of the Sea: Managing human-wildlife conflict in an increasingly tense ocean

Ana Sofia Guerra

Abstract

Human-wildlife conflict has been receiving increased scientific and management attention,
predominantly in terrestrial systems, as a side effect of successful predator conservation and
recovery. These same conflicts exist in the ocean; however, they are mostly regarded in a region-
or taxa-specific context despite evidence that human-wildlife conflict is prevalent across the
global oceans and likely to increase as a result of successful conservation measures. Can
the lessons learned from conflicts on land promote more sustainable success in the sea? Or, do
ocean human-wildlife conflicts create unique challenges that require new solutions? This paper
synthesizes evidence from human-wildlife conflicts in the ocean and provides initial suggestions
for progressing with effective management in the ocean. Humans have extensive experience
managing conflict with terrestrial predators and several of the strategies are transferable to
marine predators, but several important differences between systems necessitate a marine-
specific focus and evaluation of existing mitigation strategies. Further, in managing marine
wildlife conflict, it is crucial to recognize that perceived conflicts can be just as important as
actual conflict and that, in many cases, human-human conflict is at the root of human-wildlife
conflict. As efforts to recover important predator populations continue, humans are faced with
the exciting opportunity and a new necessity to constructively manage these recoveries to
continue to meet goals for marine conservation while simultaneously promoting human safety
and industry in the seas.
 Summary

In the past two decades, scientific interest in studying human-wildlife conflict has
increased exponentially. Humans have the capability to manage the negative effects of this
conflict. However, throughout the history of coexistence with animals on land, humans have
been raising concerns regarding property loss and public safety risks caused by predators. These
challenges are not limited to land, but also observed in seas. But this is not receiving the
significant attention it deserved as it should be considered as a global issue, given its capacity for
rapid growth in different marine environments and across a number of species.

The regeneration of declining prey populations in marine conservation has been a lifelong
objective and, in some cases, has yielded successful results. Across the global oceans, several
populations of cetaceans and pinnipeds have been on the rise and these marine predators appear
to be recovering sufficiently to cause conflict to some areas. Most global shark populations
remain severely depleted, but the rate of unprovoked shark attacks has increased worldwide.
Interactions between marine predators and commercial fisheries and aquaculture are prevalent
and one of the biggest sources of conflict in the ocean.

Reflection

These evidences have prompted to study the strategies to manage and mitigate the
negative effects of human-wildlife conflict, especially in marine environment. Humans are the
most dominant and powerful species in the world. It is unarguable that mechanisms of evolution,
specifically, natural selection, is one of the major factors that keeps the conflict between human
and animals. If we continue to rely on survival of the fittest, we might be compromised by the
fact that humans have the technology to win compared to animals that doesn’t have any ability to
beat us, ever. Due to adverse environmental and climate changes we continue to observe caused
mainly by us, humans, this study is important how we can systematically help promote
mutualism between living things. Human-wildlife conflict is inevitable but with this study, it
encourages results in positive effects on per capita reproduction and/or survival of the interacting
populations.