Put your goggles on and air up the scuba tank: Shark Week is back for a 38th year.
Discovery Channel will zero in on the finned creatures from July 20-26, and the Mississippi Aquarium is joining in by pulling back the curtain on the oft misunderstood animals.
Shark Week debuted in 1987, just months after the fourth installment of the cult big-screen series “Jaws.” The Steven Spielberg blockbusters captivated audiences and made two ominous notes synonymous with the fish.
But much of the attention was detrimental, resulting in a sharp rise in trophy hunting and public fear surrounding the animals. In fact, the Atlantic Ocean’s large shark population decreased by an estimated 50 percent in the decade following the film’s release.
Discovery’s Shark Week has transitioned away from much of the sensational depiction of sharks as primarily bloodthirsty man-eaters. In the last decade, voices in the marine conservation community have won out, leading to many myths busted and a more positive light shining on the swimmers.
Dr. Alexa Delaune, Vice President of Veterinary Services at Mississippi Aquarium, says there will always be an element of dramatic flair to shark content, though much of the entertainment is also beneficial.
“I think that Shark Week has brought really good awareness – some of [the shows] are really great and informative,” Dr. Delaune told SuperTalk Mississippi News. “And then, of course, some of them are more sensational. I think it’s a little bit of both.”
As far as the fear of being chomped by Jaws in Mississippi waters goes, the chances of an encounter are astronomically low. Just four unprovoked attacks have officially been recorded since 1837, with only two being fatal.
While it is true that a nibble from Bruce is no joke and rightfully ends up on the front page, Dr. Delaune pointed to the millions of times people enter coastal waters and nothing happens to them.
“Generally, people are safe,” she explained. “You are entering their home, but it’s not a huge threat.”
That doesn’t mean Mississippi waters are void of our finned friends. In fact, Dr. Delaune says, there are many of them.
Species in local waters range from the more common, mid-size species, like sharp-nose or black nose sharks, to the larger tiger sharks and bull sharks in deeper waters. Even more rare species like the endangered hammerhead can be found off the Magnolia State coast.
In fact, nearly one-third of all shark species are considered endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, making education all the more important.
And the apex predators don’t just star on the big screen. Dr. Delaune pointed out that sharks are critical to the health and balance of marine ecosystems, playing a crucial role in the maintenance of biodiversity and indirectly supporting sea habitats like coral reefs.
That’s why sharks are always one of the stars of the show at the Aquarium and will take center stage this week.
Dr. Delaune pointed to her personal path in explaining why aquariums and zoos were so critical to the advancement and care of wildlife. As a young girl in landlocked Kansas, a wide-eyed encounter with an aquarium dolphin sparked a lifelong commitment to marine life.
“The more I learned, the more I wanted to protect them. I see that every day at the aquarium as kids see things for the first time,” Dr. Delaune explained, noting that aquariums are the most accessible way for many to see wild animals.
“We don’t take it lightly. It’s a very big responsibility. We want to make sure these animals have the best life they can have, and we want to inspire others to learn more about them and protect them so they can continue living out in the wild. And a lot of the information we learn here can help us care for those out in the wild.”
If you live at Mississippi Aquarium, wear a skeleton made completely of cartilage, and have a dorsal fin, you’re getting the Hollywood treatment every day.
Most of the marine life living at Mississippi Aquarium lives longer than their uncaged counterparts, offering scientists and keepers unique insight into how to conserve wildlife in the great blue beyond.
And for those who might still hear a sinister stringed theme song humming in the background when they dip their toes in the salt water, Dr. Delaune says the Aquarium has plenty of ways to – safely – surmount those fears.
The fifth annual Shark Weekend, held all day Saturday and Sunday, will offer a host of fin-filled activities, opportunities to learn from experts like the University of Southern Mississippi’s Shark Research team, and crafts and games.
Considering that some sharks can swim up to 46 mph, others can glow in the dark, and some can live up to 400 years, there’s plenty to explore.
“I think the more you learn about something, it takes away that fear,” Dr. Delaune concluded.
To learn more about Shark Weekend and Mississippi Aquarium, swim here.
