Summer's approaching fast and that means mass migrations to the beach. The dark waters just beyond the sandbar gives most beach goers the heebie-jeebies for one main reason, sharks.

Did you know? Most shark species will drown if they stop swimming. They need to swim to keep the water flowing over their gills!

We’re all familiar with the "Jaws" theme song; the countless scenes in movies where someone is dangling their feet carelessly in the water, and suddenly, they are pulled under. The culprit seems to always be sharks. They are depicted in a dark and grotesque light, demonized by man as mindless monsters of the deep, out for human blood. This tainted image of the great fish species puts them at a greater risk of extinction, wiped out by fear. What if the propaganda we so regularly ingest wasn’t entirely true? What if sharks aren’t as monstrous as they are depicted?

Did you know? Sharks first appeared 400 million years ago, and they have survived all 5 of the planet's mass extinctions!

First and foremost, there are over 440 shark species in existence so their behaviors cannot all be linked together. Some sharks, for instance, form schools such as the recognizable hammerhead species while others, such as the basking shark, prefer isolation. Each breed has varying traits that are entirely unique to that species. However, it should be noted most sharks are non-aggressive and pose no threat to human life.

Did you know? You are more likely to die from a falling coconut than to be killed by a shark.

Sharks play a hugely significant role in the oceanic ecosystem. They are the apex predator, the highest-ranking animal in the ocean’s food chain only second to man. Planktivore species including the beloved whale shark maintain the plankton population, where carnivorous sharks control the populations of several species of fish, squid, rays and seals. If a single species of shark were to be removed, the natural balance of the ocean would be shifted and their prey species could over-consume vital resources, causing the starvation and potential extinction of others.

Did you know? Sharks' livers are loaded with oils, which makes the organ fairly buoyant and aids in their balance.

For decades now sharks have been under attack from overfishing, shark finning and habitat destruction — all linked to mass population decline.

Large fisheries are responsible for shark deaths due to commercial fishing for their meat as well as killing them unintentionally (commonly referred to as bycatch). This stems from poor fishing techniques like the purse seine method (where fishermen cast a large "purse-like" net with drawstrings that captures entire schools of fish or a large section of space) or leaving long lines of net out to ensnare fish.

Did you know? It is estimated that 50 million sharks are caught as bycatch in commercial fisheries each year.

Shark finning is common practice in Asia. The fins used are to create an expensive soup falsely promising healing properties. This horrific practice involves removing all the shark's fins brutally while the shark is still alive, and then either killing the fish for meat, or more often, the maimed shark is simply tossing back into the ocean where it will sink to the bottom and die.

Did you know? 73 million sharks are killed per year as a result of shark finning!

Global warming and climate change are additional threats to the shark population. With the warming of the oceans, sharks habitats are in danger. Sharks adapted to cold northern waters, like the blue shark (one of the most threatened species of shark) will face extinction.

Not only do sharks face all these threats, but the media's constant portrayal of sharks as "man-eating," "deadly" and "killer" do them no justice. The propaganda breeds fear, leading to more unnecessary deaths due to lack of understanding.

Did you know? You can do something about it!

The World Wildlife Fund has several species you can adopt or donate money to and conservation groups such as the Global Shark Conservation and Bite-Back to provide sanctuaries and public education on sharks to reduce the fear.