The Jaws Effect: How movie narratives are used to influence policy responses to shark bites in Western Australia

This article examines the way political actors use film narratives to influence policymaking following shark bites. To analyse these relationships I propose the concept of the Jaws Effect, where film-based historical analogies are used as a political device to frame real-life events in ways that make the events governable and prejudice certain policy options. Three elements of the Jaws Effect are reviewed including the intentionality of the shark, perception that these events are fatal and the belief that ‘the shark’ must be killed. These elements are applied to a case study of policy responses to shark bite episodes in Western Australia in 2000, 2003, 2011 and 2014. The reasons why this political device may not always work are also suggested.

本文研究了政治主体以什么方式使用电影叙事来影响鲨鱼咬人之后的政策制定。笔者提出“《大白鲨》效应”的概念,也就是以取自电影的历史类比为政治手段来言说现实生活中的事件,让事件根据言说者的需要,不利于某些政策选择。本文分析了《大白鲨》效应的三要素：鲨鱼的目的性;现实生活的事件性命攸关;鲨鱼必须被杀死。笔者将三要素用于研究2000、2003、2011和2014年西澳大利亚鲨鱼要人事件之后的政策反应。文章也探讨了为什么这种政治手法并不总能凑效。     

Sharks in the lagoon? Fishing exploitation at the Neolithic site of Suwayh 1 (Ash Sharqiyah region,Arabian Sea,Sultanate of Oman)

The study of the fish bones from the Neolithic shell midden of Suwayh 1, excavated in the 2000s, identified a total of 1060 identifiable fish bones, from 23 families, 33 genera and 28 different species. Radiocarbon dating demonstrates that the sites date to the early 6th to mid 5th millennium BC. The results follow an eight-phase chronology highlighted by an earlier malacological study. The most important taxa were the Carcharhinidae (requiem shark), Rhinopteridae (cownose rays), Sparoidea (Sparidae and Lethrinidae: sea breams and emperors) and Ariidae (sea catfishes). The results of the fish study show that the Suwayh lagoon must have gradually opened up to the sea and been populated with mangroves. The unique presence of so many sharks at this site seems to indicate that the inhabitants had a special interest in shark fishing and that their location was ideal for this specialised activity. Two types of fishing nets and hooks have been discovered, which require the use of different fishing techniques.     

Lower Cretaceous Anacoracidae? (Lamniformes: Neoselachii); vertebrae and associated dermal scales from Australia

Partially disarticulated shark vertebrae from the Lower Cretaceous Toolebuc Formation in central Queensland and the Bathurst Island Formation in the Northern Territory provide probable evidence of the Anacoracidae in Australia, and are possibly referable to Pseudocorax. Associated with large shark vertebrae from Canary Station, near Boulia, Queensland, are numerous placoid scales of four primary types which indicate a large pelagic shark. The Canary specimen is one of the few Mesozoic sharks known where scales have been found associated with vertebrae. Problems in referring the new shark material to the Anacoracidae and Pseudocorax are discussed. The significance of vertebral structure and scale morphology in Mesozoic shark evolution and ecology is examined. ‘Lamna daviesii’ Etheridge 1888 is considered a nomen dubium as vertebrae of this kind also occur in other genera in the Lamniformes, Orectolobiformes, and Carcharhinidae.     

Selachian scales from the Cenomanian (Late Cretaceous) of Bathurst Island,northern Australia

Seven selachian scale types are described from the middle Cenomanian Moonkinu Formation, outcropping on the southern shores of Bathurst Island in northern Australia. The scales are classified in accordance with previously published scale morphologies of Cretaceous and modern sharks, and are representative of the Orders Squatiniformes (Family Squatinidae), Carcharhiniformes (Family Scyliorhinidae), and Lamniformes (Family Odontaspididae). The presence of typically bottom-dwelling, shallow-water angelsharks (squatinids), catsharks (scyliorhinids), and sand tiger sharks (odontaspidids) within the Moonkinu Formation support an inner neritic depositional environment interpretation for the unit, previously determined from foraminiferal biofacies and lithology. The biostratigraphic potential of these scales can only be assessed after scales from more Cretaceous localities are described and documented.     

« Un chef est un requin qui voyage par terre >> : fonctions et statuts des armatures de projectile en dent de Carcharhinus leucas et aiguillon caudal de raie dans l'Arabie des VIe-IIIe millénaires av. notre ère

During the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, many teeth of large sharks ( Carcharhinus leucas ) and stingray spines were transformed into projectile points in south-eastern Arabia. These points were probably used for fishing. Deriving from dangerous and/or toxic animals, shark teeth and stingray spines were certainly markers of prestige.