Terrified of a shark assault? Here is what consultants need you to know.

There appears to be a brand new story of a shark assault each month, a frequency that paints an image of menacing creatures beneath the ocean trying to find people. However consultants say that is merely not the case: Shark assaults are literally a minuscule drawback worldwide.

The Florida Museum of Pure Historical past’s Worldwide Shark Assault Information investigated 137 alleged shark-human interactions in 2021. Of these, simply 73 throughout your entire world had been deemed unprovoked shark bites, most of which occurred within the U.S., whereas 39 of the incidents had been thought of provoked, which means that the human purposefully interacted with the shark indirectly. 

However as Yannis Papastamatiou, a professor at Florida Worldwide College who research shark habits, defined, that is nonetheless a really small quantity. 

“For those who put that into perspective as to how many individuals are within the water, what number of sharks are within the water … you actually understand how unlikely it’s that you will get bitten by a shark,” he advised CBS Information. “… It is only a numbers sport. And the actual fact is, the relative chance is extraordinarily low.” 

In comparison with the frequency of different kinds of accidents and animal bites, Kayleigh Grant, founding father of Kaimana Ocean Safari in Hawaii, advised CBS Information that individuals “actually should not be petrified of sharks.” A generally cited 1979 examine discovered 892 human bites reported in New York Metropolis in 1977 – 63 occasions greater than worldwide shark bites that very same yr. Even at present, the Cleveland Clinic says that about 250,000 human bites are reported nationwide annually, almost 3,500 occasions greater than shark bites. 

“You usually tend to be bitten by a New Yorker than a shark. That could be a true statistic,” Grant stated. “So we should always actually be extra petrified of our personal sort than the gorgeous sharks within the ocean.”

Why do sharks assault? 

Incidents by which a shark bites a human are generally regarded as a normal habits of all sharks, Papastamatiou stated, however in actuality, it might occur for a variety of causes – most of which don’t embrace consuming. Even when a shark is looking for meals, a chunk at a human is commonly a case of mistaken id or curiosity. 

“Clearly, even an investigative nibble from a white shark could possibly be deadly simply because of the measurement of those animals, however even with white sharks, the mortality fee will not be very excessive amongst victims,” Papastamatiou stated. “…This can be very uncommon for somebody to be utterly consumed by a big shark.”

Grant advised CBS Information that shark assault tales are tragic, however individuals should perceive the ocean is sharks’ house and the animals are avoiding people most of the time.

“Anytime we enter it, we should always form of anticipate that there’s a chance we might encounter a shark,” she stated. “More often than not – 99.9% of the time – sharks are simply swimming by individuals. They aren’t taking a look at an individual saying, ‘That’s my meals.’ Sadly, they do not get the credit score that they deserve each time they simply appropriately determine what we’re and proceed swimming alongside.” 

How will you forestall an assault? 

Even with shark assaults being a comparatively low prevalence, they’re all the time a chance, consultants say. However there are some preemptive measures beach-goers can take to minimize the chance. 

At the start, individuals ought to examine their environment. If the water is murky, it could actually make it tougher for each you and the shark to appropriately determine one another, and if there was not too long ago a giant storm that resulted in a number of particles or induced animals to die, it might additionally appeal to extra sharks to the world. The swimming spot itself also needs to be thought of – steer clear of areas the place individuals are fishing. 

Secondly, Grant stated it is necessary for individuals to “look alive” as they play, swim or surf within the ocean. You also needs to look “purposeful” in your actions, notably when you’re swimming, and it is helpful to put on a masks or goggles so you possibly can higher survey the world round you.

“Not a lot that you simply’re splashing or flailing or look panicky, however simply sort of hold your self shifting a bit,” Grant stated. “You’ll appear to be simply that a lot tougher of a goal, that rather more of a tougher prey to catch.” 

For those who do see a shark, a very powerful factor to do is “hold your eye” on it, Papastamatiou stated.

“Do not flip your again on it, even when you’ve determined it is time to get out of the water,” he stated. “…The golden rule is make that animal conscious that it is there.” 

For those who’re diving, it is also helpful to take care of eye contact with the shark, Grant added. And in case you have fins or a surfboard or one thing of the like, place it in between you and the animal. 

“Simply giving them that eye contact is one of the simplest ways so that you can appear to be an equal apex predator to a shark,” she stated. ” They’re truly actually intimidated by eye contact.”

The actual hazard

When individuals consider sharks, they typically consider the 1975 movie “Jaws,” an award-winning film a couple of seaside city seemingly hunted by an ideal white. That film is claimed to be answerable for igniting worry among the many lots, which, coupled with headlines of shark assaults, has vilified the ocean creature that’s important in sustaining stability in marine ecosystems. 

However the fact is, people pose a a lot better threat to them than vice versa. 

“I simply need individuals to know that sharks should not out to get us. They aren’t like what has been portrayed in ‘Jaws,'” Grant stated. Even “Jaws” director Steven Spielberg himself advised the BBC that he “actually regrets” how his film influenced individuals to worry sharks. 

Sharks are additionally notoriously hunted for his or her fins, part of their our bodies that’s typically utilized in specialty cuisines however is often obtained by slicing off a shark’s fin and leaving its physique to sink to the underside of the ocean. A 2013 examine discovered that people kill an estimated 100 million sharks yearly – an quantity that far surpasses the variety of shark bites yearly – though the particular causes for these killings aren’t specified.

“Sharks are actually, actually misunderstood,” Grant stated. “…They don’t seem to be the enemy. They’re one thing that we needs to be working with to assist hold the ecosystem wholesome and in stability.”