A new shark documentary exploring one of the most dramatic shifts in marine conservation tourism is heading to the UK this summer, as the Shark Trust prepares to host the UK premiere of Shark Town in Bristol this July.
The feature-length documentary, created by wildlife filmmaker and conservationist Richard Peirce, tells the story of Gansbaai, South Africa, once known globally as the “Great White Shark Capital of the World”. The town became internationally famous for its thriving great white shark population and cage diving industry, but faced uncertainty when the sharks suddenly disappeared from the region.
According to the press release, the film presents what is described as a “real-life JAWS flipover”, documenting how an unexpected new shark species helped reshape the future of the local marine tourism economy after the decline of great white sightings.
The screening will take place at Bristol Megascreen on Friday, July 10, 2026, from 7pm to 9pm, as part of the Shark Trust’s wider “Shark Month” programme. The organisation says the annual initiative combines science, advocacy, conservation awareness and public engagement events focused on sharks and rays.
Attendees will also be shown Living with Sharks in The Bahamas, a short documentary produced by the Shark Trust examining life alongside one of the world’s best-known shark sanctuaries. The film features perspectives from local communities living and working in protected shark waters across The Bahamas.
Following the screening, guests will be invited to participate in a live Q&A session with Richard Peirce and Paul Cox.
Peirce has spent decades documenting wildlife and marine conservation stories around the world and was among the earliest members of the Shark Trust after the charity was founded in 1997. He later served as Chairman for 12 years and has remained closely connected to shark conservation initiatives in South Africa, particularly around Walker Bay and Gansbaai.
Paul Cox, who has served as CEO of the Shark Trust since 2015, has become one of the leading public voices in shark and ray conservation, helping drive international policy work and global awareness campaigns for more than 1,200 shark and ray species.
Gansbaai itself remains one of the world’s most significant marine ecosystems, known not only for sharks but also for whales and diverse marine life that have helped position the region as a major centre for marine science and conservation.
The documentary arrives at a time when conversations around shark ecotourism, changing marine ecosystems and predator conservation continue to evolve globally. South Africa’s changing great white shark dynamics have become a major topic of discussion in both the scientific and dive tourism communities over recent years, particularly as shifting predator patterns have affected local operators and conservation strategies.
Tickets for the UK premiere are priced at £15, or £12.50 for Shark Trust members, with booking available through the Shark Trust website.
Shark Town is a one-hour documentary produced by Rockpool Media and Marine Dynamics and focuses on wildlife, travel and marine conservation in South Africa.
For more information or tickets, visit the Shark Trust official event page.
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