Collaborators are CSU, University of Wollongong (UOW) and NSW DPI who have provided funding through the NSW Shark Management Strategy (SMS) Competitive Annual Grants Program, $50,000
Rural and Regional Communities
Associate Professor Peter Simmons, Dr Michael Mehmet and Associate Professor Rod Clarke, (University of Wollongong)
Photo from left Dr Michael Mehmet and A/Prof Peter Simmons
This two stage project involved researchers analysing community perceptions publicly available in popular social media sites; and conducting interviews/focus groups with key social and economic stakeholder groups with an interest in the ocean or shark management policy.
Discussions were held on the North coast; Mid-north coast; Central coast; South coast; Sydney Metropolitan and Far south coast.
Their main findings were:
Simmons, P. & Mehmet, M. (2018) Shark management strategy policy considerations: Community preferences, reasoning and speculations. Marine Policy, 96, 111-119 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2018.08.010
Simmons, P. & Mehmet, M. (2018) Feeding frenzy: public accuse the media of deliberately fuelling shark fear. The Conversation https://theconversation.com/feeding-frenzy-public-accuse-the-media-of-deliberately-fuelling-shark-fear-95858
Callaghan, K., Mehmet, M.I., and Simmons, P. (2018) Facebook and Twitter utility for policymakers. Australian New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference. University of Adelaide, Adelaide (Dec 2018).
Mehmet, M.I., Simmons, P., and Clarke, R. (2018) Sharks, Social Sentiment and Science. International Social Marketing Conference Singapore (July 2018).
Simmons, P., Mehmet, M., Clarke, R. (2017) Shark Sentiment Report: Executive Summary and Recommendations
The Executive summary of the Shark Sentiment report pdf is here https://www.sharksmart.nsw.gov.au/technology-trials-and-research/social-research
The findings and final report help NSW DPI to consider trends in community sentiment when deciding policy and targeting communication about policy.
Contact:
Associate Professor Peter Simmons
email
Dr Michael Mehmet
email
CSU Bathurst
February 2019