When a lot of people think about sharks, they think about vicious killers that should be feared. They think they are violent animals that seek out unsuspecting humans just enjoying their time at the beach. None of those things are true. Today we are going to debunk some common shark myths and show that sharks aren’t so scary after all.
I am going to start all of this off by saying any wild animal has the potential to cause harm to humans. This means any wild animal can be potentially dangerous, but it doesn’t mean you should be afraid of animals. For me, I do not fear sharks, but I do have a healthy respect for them. They are wild animals that are powerful predators and have the ability to cause a lot of damage to a human body, but they are not evil. We, as humans visiting their home, need to be respectful and aware of the fact that the ocean isn’t just a really big swimming pool, it is a wild environment.
Man-Eater:
Contrary to popular belief, humans are not on sharks’ menu! Sharks enjoy a wide variety of foods depending on what species they are. In general, sharks eat seafood! They love fish, crab, snails, sea urchins, seals, rays, birds, and even other sharks! Sharks’ digestive systems process food pretty slowly as well. They usually only eat one to two meals a week and don’t eat another meal until the previous one has been digested.
So why do sharks NOT like eating humans? Well, there are a few reasons. First of all, humans tend to have more bone than meat. Bone takes a lot longer to digest and a shark could essentially starve to death waiting for the bone to get broken down and move through their system. Secondly, our meat also tends to be low fat compared to what they usually eat, so it doesn’t provide enough energy to be a viable food source. Finally, humans aren’t a natural part of sharks’ environment. We are not a normal source of food for sharks and they have not evolved to see us as prey items. They were roaming around the ocean for thousands of years before humans came around, so they already had a well-established diet of seafood before we even became an option.
But what about all the shark attacks we hear about every summer? While there are many interactions between sharks and humans (140 worldwide in 2019), they are very rarely fatal (only 5 of those 140 interactions were fatal). In the majority of these instances, it is a case of mistaken identity or the shark is just trying to figure out what is going on. Unfortunately for humans, a shark’s curiosity nibble can end up causing a lot of damage. Sharks aren’t these inherently violent creatures that are seeking humans out to attack. They may sense humans splashing around in the water and think it's a seal or a bunch of fish and go check it out. You also have to keep in mind that some of these interactions occur when humans provoke sharks. This could be when people are harassing or trying to touch a shark, when a fisherman is trying to remove a hook from the shark’s mouth or remove it from a fishing net, or when people are attempting to feed sharks.
Staying Safe:
What can we do to make sure we are being respectful of sharks and lower our chances of having an unfortunate interaction? Here is a list of some pretty easy things you can do to lessen your chances of being on the receiving end of a shark nibble.
First and foremost, when you are enjoying time at the beach and entering the ocean, be aware of your surroundings. If you notice sharks or large groups of fish in the water (diving seabirds are a good indication of schools of fish being nearby), don’t go swimming.
Don’t swim near people that are fishing or near piers. Piers are commonly used by fish as habitat and fishermen are usually using bait, so sharks come there to hunt and could confuse you for food.
Don’t wear shiny jewelry or metallic swimsuits. Reflecting light from your jewelry or suit can look similar to light reflecting off of fish scales.
Stay in a group. Sharks tend to go after prey that is isolated and alone.
Stay close to shore. If you go out too far you risk not being able to make it to assistance quickly if needed.
I feel like this should go without saying, but don’t get in the water if you are actively bleeding. A shark can sense blood in the water and may mistake you for an injured fish. Sharks are opportunistic feeders, so they tend to go for animals that are injured or sick so that they are easier to catch.
Avoid the water at night, dawn, and dusk. Many shark species are most active during these times.
Again, I feel like this should go without saying, but don’t enter water that has sewage (so gross). Sewage attracts baitfish which in turn attracts sharks.
Don’t splash around a lot. Moving around erratically can mimic an animal in distress which can attract sharks.
Be careful around sandbars and areas with big drop-offs. These are favorite hangouts for sharks.
DO NOT TRY TO TOUCH A SHARK IF YOU SEE ONE. If you really want to touch a shark, go to an aquarium with a shark touch tank where you can interact with them in a much safer environment.
The Truth of It All:
In reality, humans are much more dangerous for sharks than sharks are for humans. Humans kill approximately 20 to 30 million sharks every year. We are driving many species to the brink of extinction. Sharks are prized for their fins for shark fin soup and for their oils which are commonly used in cosmetics and skincare. Not only are we over-harvesting sharks themselves, but we are also over-harvesting their food sources. We are seeing sharks coming closer to shore in search of food because we are depleting the oceans of fish. Sharks play an extremely important role in keeping our oceans healthy. Without sharks, the entire oceanic ecosystem would collapse.
Thank you for learning with me today! I know animals as powerful as sharks can seem scary, but hopefully, now you can see how amazing they are. You have nothing to be afraid of as long as you respect them and their home. Do you have a favorite species of shark? What other scary shark questions do you have? Let me know below!
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