As someone who hails from the pristine Sandy shores of the Bahamas (with Jamacian roots) I can’t help but share my passion for the marine environment. I have been obsessed with the Ocean since I was a child and this obsession has led me tu pursue a degree in Marine Science and Small Island Sustainability from the University of the Bahamas. Currently I work as a Research Assistant at the Perry Institute for Marine Science and couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the BWEEMS family ✨🌊

The media often portrays sharks as bloodthirsty predators, with 96% of movies portraying sharks negatively. However, the scientific community has documented the docile and relatively harmless nature of sharks, leading to The Bahamas becoming the first Caribbean country to establish a nationwide shark sanctuary in 2011. This decision has been beneficial to the local shark diving industry, contributing millions to the country's GDP. However, The Bahamas has received an alarming number of shark attacks compared to other Caribbean nations, leading to the possibility of lifting the ban due to damage to the country's fisheries and tourism industry. In Trinidad and Tobago, shark meat is a delicacy, and Shark and Bake is a popular cultural dish. The two countries have a call for conservation among the locals. This study investigated how different cultural climates regarding shark protection affected local perceptions using critical discourse analysis (CDA) methodology. The data from the print media and social comparative analysis about sharks from both countries was predominantly about experiences and/or interactions with sharks. Most social media posts from Trinidad and Tobago were focused on shark harm (65.46%) followed by negative shark experience/interaction (attack) (23.49%) and Shark consumption (10.88%). In the Bahamas, the posts were predominantly focused on negative shark experience/interaction (attack) (78%) followed by positive shark experience interaction (22%). Based on the findings, it is evident that there is differing discourse regarding sharks with an urgent need for balance in both countries. In the Bahamas, sharks are protected yet still conditioned due to regular feedings and reinforcement and several of the incidents have occurred during such tourism activities, In Trinidad and Tobago, sharks are traditionally consumed as a local delicacy. Yet the print media displayed conservation-related advocacy and efforts to enlighten locals about the engagement status of the sharks they consume. Therefore, there needs to be a balance regarding the consumption and conservation efforts of this country