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Shark attack! Media hype vs. shark truth
The shark is one of media’s most reliable monsters. Every year, newspapers, magazines, and television news shows leap to every shark sighting and shark attack report. And, why not? One of their primary roles is to produce ratings and sell magazines for their companies. The vision of a “man-eating” shark never fails to grab attention.

A quick look at the Discovery Channel Shark Week 2007 series clearly demonstrates how dramatic titles are used: “Ocean of Fear: The Worst Shark Attack Ever”, “Deadly Stripes”, “Shark Feeding Frenzy”, “Perfect Predators”, and “Top Five Eaten Alive.” These titles do not provide a balanced view of the world of sharks, but they sure do maximize tune-in. In contrast, 20 years ago during the first Shark Week, there were friendlier, but less motivating titles such as, “The Shark Takes a Siesta” and “Sharks of a Different Color.”

Time Magazine declared 2001 the “Summer of the Shark.” The media frenzy began when a bull shark bit the arm off an 8-yr old boy playing in the waters off Pensacola, Florida. Thereafter, any encounter with a shark, no matter how insignificant, made prime time news.

The reality is that in 2001 and all years there are relatively few shark attacks and fatalities when compared to virtually any other kind of accident. The shark made it to the cover of Time magazine not because sharks are a real problem, but because it was a slow-news summer.

Peter Benchley, the author of “Jaws,” the novel which became the Steven Spielberg Hollywood film production about a fictional Great White, once said, “We don't just fear our predators, we are transfixed by them. In a deeply tribal way, we love our monsters.” It should be noted that some years after he wrote Jaws, Benchley became a highly committed shark conservationist and advocate.

The truth of shark attacks is reported elsewhere on Shark Savers. There are a small handful of shark attack fatalities in the world each year. Only 10 out of the 500 species of sharks have been implicated in incidents with humans. (see Myth – Shark attacks are common).

But, these facts can’t compete with money. Or our morbid sense of thrill.

Unfortunately, sharks are being wiped out by other big-money—the shark fin industry. We don’t yet see public outcry to save the sharks, perhaps because the media-created image of sharks makes it difficult for many people to understand why sharks are worth saving.

Comments (4)

kaitlyn said:

Shark-Finning Awareness Rally
This is for my senior project and Im holding an awareness rally for Shark-Finning in Portland on March 21st in Pioneer Square, we are going to have booths and information being passed out. It should be an awesome event! More people the better!
 
March 20, 2011
Votes: +2

Tatanya said:

Save the Oceans by Saving the Sharks
Because of finning and overhunting shark numbers have plummeted from anywhere from 50-90%. This is absolutely ridiculous! Sharks play a major role in the ecosystem! Take away them and your signing a death sentence for the oceans and eventually the world!
 
February 24, 2009 | url
Votes: +7

Shark Savers said:

...
Just in case you English speakers wanted to understand the previous post, here's a translation:
Sharks are not the beasts, but humans! At an average of every 3 seconds a shark is killed. With this we are ruining our ocean ecosystem. This is where we need to start to sensitize the people and make them aware of the topic. It is not about stopping finning or stopping sales of shark products but rather we need to let people know that sharkfin soup is toxic! Methylmercury is concentrated in the fins of sharks and it responsible for health impacts ranging from headaches to infertility. Please also do not purchase any shark products. More information can be obtained at www.SharkProtect.eu and www.Sharkproject.org.
 
March 17, 2008 | url
Votes: +6

Michael Stock said:

Sharks are toxically if they are eaten...
Hai@all,
nicht der Hai ist die Bestie, sondern der Mensch. Ca. alle 3 Sekunden stirbt ein Hai. Wir ruinieren damit unser Ökosystem Meer. Hier müssen wir ansetzen, die Menschen zu sensibilisieren und mit der Thematik vertraut machen. Es geht nicht nur darum, das Finnen von Haien zu verbieten und den Verkauf von Haiprodkten zu stoppen, sondern es muß den Leuten bewusst gemacht werden, dass Haifischflossensuppe giftig ist. Methylquecksilber lagert sich in Haifischflossen ab, dieses kann Krankheiten vom Kopfschmerz bis zur Unfruchtbarkeit hervorrufen. Also verzichten Sie auf den Kauf von Haifischprodukten. Nähere Informationen erhalten Sie unter www.SharkProtect.eu oder unter www.Sharkproject.org
 
March 16, 2008 | url
Votes: +5

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