Yes, this quote is actually from "Finding Nemo," and I’m not suggesting being friends with sharks, but maybe the relationship can change from what it once was.
When “Jaws” premiered in 1975, it created a roar across the nation. People were fascinated. People were horrified. The shark became the stuff of nightmares.
Today the new phenomenon is "Shark Week," a program on the Discovery Channel that, for one week every summer, gives us an insight into the world of sharks. Each year the program gains more viewers, and I believe it is beginning to change the way we see sharks.
I’ve always been very cautious when in the ocean. I was the kid that screamed when a piece of seaweed brushed up against my leg. I’ve seen sharks at the beach before, and to be perfectly honest, it’s terrifying. As a Floridian, I’ve accepted the fact that I live very near these creatures and I’m going to see them from time to time. However, by watching this program, I feel like I’m learning so much about sharks and that gives me a really healthy respect for them.
There is a new viral video, where a woman declares the ocean as the shark’s house. She explains, “If a chicken comes in my house, he ends up on a plate, so if you go in the shark’s house, you’re going to get ate up.” As comical as this video is, she actually makes a valid point. When you enter the ocean, you’re going into another world, where you are not the top of the food chain. Many people that survive shark attacks say the same thing, “I don’t blame the shark; I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Most shark attacks are cases of mistaken identity, where the shark mistakes the human for their normal oceanic prey.
The problem is that the fear of sharks has caused many people to panic and go on killing sprees. This is not the solution. Sharks are already decreasing in numbers due to overfishing in Asia, for the infamous "shark fin soup." Just like any other ecosystem, the ocean needs sharks to maintain the balance of other oceanic populations. If there were a string of bear attacks in a forest, you wouldn’t see people running into the trees with their guns loaded to kill all of the bears, so why are we taking this approach with sharks?
By watching "Shark Week" over the last few years, I’ve learned how intelligent sharks really are. They really are fascinating animals. Yes, animals. They have to eat and hunt in order to survive, just as we do. It’s sad when they get dolphins or seals, but that’s nature. It’s not like they have a grocery store like we do. “Oh hey Mr. Shark, here’s that 5lb. sea bass you ordered.” No. In fact, they travel thousands of miles every year to the same spots to find food. Pretty incredible, if you really think about it; they don’t have a compass and they can navigate through the oceans like a boss.
At the end of the day, it’s their ocean. We’re just visitors, so if we “trespass” and something bad happens, it’s on us. The solution to most problems is education, not violence. The more we learn about these creatures, the more we can be respectful of their way of life, and have safer experiences when venturing into their domain.
Have a safe summer!
