Buzz
The mere mention of sharks triggers an ancient fear in many of us, a fear that Hollywood’s inaccurate depictions of these creatures only intensify. Films often distort the truth, feeding into our fears with dramatic, unrealistic portrayals. Even shows that claim to offer factual information can, at times, mislead us into imagining things as outlandish as a massive, ancient shark returning from extinction.
It's no exaggeration to say that shark myths are rampant. Finding credible material that presents sharks in a positive light, offering facts that ease our fears instead of fueling them, is often a difficult task. Sadly, the myths and misinformation surrounding sharks are so pervasive that we tend to abandon reason and blindly accept unfounded, distorted tales. Nevertheless, here are 10 shocking truths about shark attacks, presented as clearly and accurately as possible.
10. Conservation Efforts Could Lead to More Shark Attacks
For years, ocean experts have been tracking the rise in shark attacks across North America. A 2014 report highlighted three potential reasons for this alarming increase: global warming (which encourages humans to spend more time in the water), the growing number of people venturing into the ocean, and the rising number of sharks migrating to both U.S. coastlines.
While global warming may explain why more people are spending extended periods in the ocean, another often-overlooked cause for the rise in shark attacks is the explosion in seal and sea lion populations along North American coasts over the last half-century. In California, sea lion numbers plummeted to around 10,000 by the 1950s, but thanks to conservation efforts since the 1970s, that population has surged to an estimated 300,000, reaching what experts call the 'environmental limit.'
Efforts to protect and restore wildlife around Cape Cod, Massachusetts, have paid off, particularly in boosting the gray seal population. The number of seals counted in a single day rose from 5,611 in 1999 to 15,756 by 2011, making the area more attractive to sharks and resulting in more shark sightings and attacks. The rise in marine mammal numbers mirrors the increase in shark populations, likely leading to more accidental encounters between humans and sharks.
9. The Predators of the Ocean
The legendary film Jaws showcased a great white shark that hunted with a cold, calculating precision reminiscent of Jack the Ripper. If you replace humans with seals in that scenario, it perfectly captures the hunting method of the great white.
Previously, it was thought that great white sharks were random hunters, scouring vast ocean expanses for food. However, a 2009 study revealed a far more methodical approach, much like a serial killer’s tactics. Great whites position themselves stealthily in familiar areas, keeping hidden while observing their prey until the perfect moment to strike with total surprise.
With an almost human-like strategic thinking, great white sharks don’t just choose hunting grounds based on the likelihood of finding food. Instead, they seem to deliberately select locations where they can spot prey while maximizing the odds of a successful attack. Interestingly, smaller, younger sharks tend to roam broader areas and are less effective, hinting at a disturbing but sophisticated learning curve as these predators mature.
The hunting technique of the great white shark is so eerily similar to human serial killers that this research is now included in criminal psychology textbooks. It highlights the killer's focus, base of operations, the ability to observe prey without alarming them, and the tendency to target vulnerable individuals. The key distinction, however, is that sharks hunt for sustenance rather than for twisted pleasure.
8. The Shark Attack Capital of the World
New Smyrna Beach, located near Daytona Beach in Florida, enjoys sunny weather year-round, attracts fishermen who bait the waters, and draws many tourists and surfers. Surprisingly, great white sharks are not particularly drawn to this area, although smaller shark species are more common. In fact, New Smyrna Beach holds the title of the shark bite capital of the world. While it's a top destination for tourists and surfers, there are some surprising aspects about its status as a shark attack hotspot.
It’s estimated that anyone who has swum in New Smyrna Beach's waters has been within 3 meters (10 ft) of a shark. Astonishingly, no fatalities have occurred from shark attacks at this beach. This is likely due to the fact that the sharks in these waters are typically smaller species. Most attacks are caused by younger sharks, like bull or blacktip sharks, which are simply looking for food.
Because most shark species don’t instinctively target humans, these attacks are more akin to painful, non-lethal 'taste tests.' Shark attacks in New Smyrna are so frequent yet harmless that when two men were bitten on a Sunday in October 2014, the authorities didn’t even feel the need to close the beaches.
7. Please Don’t Kiss The Sharks
In 2014, a man diving off the coast of Florida filmed an intense encounter as he fought off a great white shark using only his spear gun. The incident took place 30 meters (90 ft) underwater, and the shark continued to return for two minutes before finally swimming away. Between 1820 and 2012, Australia and the United States recorded the highest number of shark attacks on divers. Interestingly, and perhaps disturbingly, many of these attacks were caused by divers doing something most of us would recognize as reckless—intentionally interacting with the shark.
According to the International Shark Attack File, a study of 130 shark attacks in 2014 found that 72 of them were unprovoked, meaning the sharks attacked on their own accord. The flip side of this is the remaining 58 attacks, which were categorized as 'provoked' or initiated by the diver. In other words, nearly half of all recorded shark attacks were not the shark's idea.
Divers have been known to provoke blacktip reef sharks by pulling their tails just to observe the shark’s reaction. Additionally, some so-called experts have even staged confrontations to prove that steel mesh can protect someone from a shark attack. Strangely, there’s a market for shark-resistant swimsuits that might save you from a shark, but also drag you to the ocean floor.
Ultimately, we're all familiar with tales of humans becoming too familiar with wildlife, often with disastrous consequences. Perhaps we should spend more time with our fellow humans instead of, say, trying to kiss a shark.
6. Shallow Water Strikes
We often feel safe when we're knee- or waist-deep in the ocean, but perhaps we should reconsider. The majority of people tend to stay close to shore while in the water, so it's not surprising that most shark attacks occur in shallow water. Statistically, fewer shark attacks happen in deeper waters, but when they do, the chances of a fatal encounter are higher than in shallow water.
Between 1907 and 2010, 201 out of 210 shark attacks by great white sharks took place in waters 2 meters (6 ft) deep or less. In addition to great whites, bull sharks and young sharks prefer shallow waters to feed, which frequently brings them into contact with humans. For instance, one attack occurred in just 1 meter (3 ft) of water. In 2012, off the coast of Maui in Hawaii, where tiger sharks give birth in shallow waters, seven recorded attacks were documented.
Tiger sharks are often found in shallow waters like canals, reefs, and harbors, making them the second most frequent attackers after great whites. Even more unsettling, tiger sharks are less likely to end an attack once they realize their victim is human.
5. Jaws Probably Wasn’t A Great White
Between July 1 and 12, 1916, five people were attacked near Beach Haven and Matawan Creek in New Jersey. A massive shark hunt followed, and several sharks were caught and killed. One of them was reportedly a great white shark, with human remains found in its stomach. Nearly six decades later, the novel 'Jaws' and its iconic film adaptation may have drawn inspiration from these events, though author Peter Benchley denied any direct connection. Despite the report of human remains in the great white shark, it's likely that the actual predator was not a great white.
The shark responsible for the attacks began near the coast of New Jersey, eventually moving upstream into the freshwater of Matawan Creek. This shift to freshwater led many to believe that the predator was not a great white, but likely a bull shark, as it is the only species known to adapt its metabolism to move between saltwater and freshwater. Bull sharks can expel excess salt when in the ocean and retain it when in freshwater.
While great white sharks are undeniably famous and have captured the imagination of writers, filmmakers, and TV producers, many other shark species are also known to attack humans, particularly in areas like the Gulf Coast and the southeastern United States. This includes the tiger shark and blacktip sharks, among others. Perhaps Scheider, Shaw, and Dreyfuss didn't really need a bigger boat after all.
4. Sharks Prefer Men
An Australian study examining global shark attacks over three decades, concluding in 2011, found that men are far more likely to be attacked than women. In fact, 84% of shark attacks during this period were on men, and 89% of the fatalities were also men. These statistics are likely a direct result of the higher number of men entering the ocean compared to women.
Shark behavior research has become incredibly detailed in recent years. We now know that most shark attack victims are between 20 and 40 years old, which aligns with the age group of typical ocean swimmers. A University of Florida study on shark attacks from 1956 to 2008 found that most shark attacks on surfers occurred in black and white wetsuits, on Sundays, during a new moon, in water less than 2 meters (6 feet) deep. Victims are also twice as likely to be attacked on the leg as opposed to other parts of the body and five times more likely to be attacked on the leg than the arm.
3. Fighting Off Sharks
Conservationists have inundated the media with statistics claiming that being attacked by a shark is as unlikely as being struck by lightning. While these comparisons are mathematically valid, those of us who prefer to err on the side of caution would still like to know the best way to defend ourselves in the unlikely event of a shark attack. Interestingly, punching a shark in the nose may not be the most effective strategy, nor is playing dead. The best advice is to target the eyes. In one instance, an Australian diver, nearly decapitated by a great white shark, managed to escape by poking the shark in the eye, causing it to release him.
Thanks to scientific progress, it's possible that one day we might enter the ocean equipped with a special deodorant that makes us completely unappealing to sharks. When sharks bite into certain fish, such as Moses sole and pufferfish, they release chemicals that cause the shark to immediately release its grip. If we can identify and replicate these substances, we could create a shark repellent or deterrent. Until then, the best we can do is to avoid the ocean on weekends, wear solid-colored swimsuits, skip new moons, and stop being men. Or, we could start wearing steel-mesh swimsuits.
2. Red Sea Shark Scare
Whitetip sharks have a reputation for being more inclined to treat humans as potential prey. However, this reputation was mainly based on historical accounts of whitetips attacking humans who were already injured or in distress, such as the tragic event when the USS Indianapolis sank near the end of World War II. During that incident, an estimated 150 wounded sailors were attacked and killed by sharks in the waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Whitetip sharks have developed a fearsome reputation for being more likely to consider humans as prey. However, this perception was traditionally based on reports of whitetips attacking humans who were already wounded or in distress, including the well-known incident when the USS Indianapolis sank near the end of World War II, where an estimated 150 injured sailors were attacked and killed by sharks in the Pacific Ocean.
The shark attacks in Egypt involving whitetips may indicate that these sharks are becoming increasingly aggressive towards humans for several reasons. For instance, weaker swimmers might appear to be in distress, prompting a whitetip to approach. Additionally, as more people spend more time in the ocean, these sharks could be becoming more accustomed to human presence. Like many other human-wildlife conflicts, this could also be tied to conservation issues, such as overfishing, which depletes the sharks' food sources, driving them to become bolder in search of nourishment.
1. Sharks May Not Mistake Us For Seals
In contrast to the typical brutal and savage way sharks attack pinnipeds, great whites seem to approach humans with greater caution, expending less energy during the attack. Surprisingly, many attacks result in little to no tissue damage to the victim. One surfer recounted how a great white calmly surfaced, bit his surfboard, then gently released it before swimming off.
Unlike their violent and aggressive attacks on pinnipeds, great whites appear to intentionally conserve energy when engaging humans, often causing minimal injury or no damage at all. One surfer described how a great white surfaced, bit his surfboard, and then gently let it go before swimming away.
As apex predators, great white sharks are not intimidated by much and will often approach unfamiliar objects simply to investigate them. Lacking fingers, they rely on their teeth and jaws for examination. A reassuring fact for many surfers and divers is that sharks don't usually see humans as food, mainly because humans are not fat enough to be a viable meal. So, perhaps a good reason to rethink fast food consumption.
