Perceiving the Predators: Social Science Perspectives on Human Interactions with Sharks and Rays

Elasmobranchs—sharks, rays, and skates—occupy a pivotal place in marine ecosystems and human imagination alike. For centuries, they have been framed simultaneously as creatures of fear, fascination, and ecological importance. Although research has substantially advanced knowledge of their biology and population dynamics, the human, social, and cultural dimensions of interactions with these species remain significantly underexplored. People’s attitudes toward elasmobranchs are influenced by a web of cultural beliefs, media portrayals, governance structures, emotions, and prior experiences that shape perceptions of risk, moral responsibility, and conservation priorities. These social and psychological dimensions directly affect support for protective policies, compliance with management measures, and public engagement in conservation.Recent interdisciplinary studies in marine social science, environmental psychology, anthropology, and communication highlight the importance of integrating human perspectives into conservation governance. However, insights remain fragmented, and there is still limited synthesis connecting social theory and empirical findings to current conservation practice. Deeper understanding of how people perceive and relate to elasmobranchs is urgently needed to inform more socially grounded and ethically robust approaches to conservation.This Research Topic aims to bring together interdisciplinary research exploring how humans perceive, experience, and interact with elasmobranchs across diverse cultural and geographic contexts. The goal is to examine how emotional responses, traditional ecological knowledge, media representations, and governance systems influence societal attitudes and behaviors toward these species. The Research Topic also seeks to uncover how different meanings, values, and identities attached to sharks, rays, and skates affect conservation support and conflict. By synthesizing conceptual, methodological, and empirical advances from across the social sciences, this initiative will deepen understanding of the human dimensions of marine conservation and provide actionable insights for more inclusive and effective policy and management frameworks. Ultimately, this Research Topic aspires to bridge disciplinary gaps and promote ethical coexistence between humans and marine predators.This Research Topic welcomes contributions from across the social, behavioral, and interdisciplinary sciences that address the human dimensions of elasmobranch conservation and interaction. Submissions may use qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-method approaches and can focus on any region or cultural context. Comparative, theoretical, and applied studies are equally encouraged, including work that links social science perspectives with ecological or policy dimensions. Topic editors: Johann Mourier Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81186/perceiving-the-predators-social-science-perspectives-on-human-interactions-with-sharks-and-rays