Great white sharks face welfare threats from targeted killing, bycatch, and the stress of capture-tag-release research procedures. Their conservation is also welfare-positive at population scale.
Great white shark welfare is threatened both by direct killing and by the stress of research and tourism interactions. Drum line capture causes drowning stress and injury. Beach netting kills non-target species including sharks over extended periods. Research tagging requires boat-side restraint of large, active predators - causing acute stress even when conducted carefully. Cage diving tourism can cause sharks to associate human presence with food rewards, altering natural behaviour. Conservation of this apex predator serves both individual welfare at population scale and ecosystem health. Non-lethal shark deterrent technologies protect beachgoers without the welfare cost of lethal control.