Understanding Shark Behavior Near Surfers and Coastal Areas
This article explores the frequent sightings of sharks near surfers and coastal areas, dispelling myths about their danger and emphasizing their inquisitive nature.
As drones have increasingly taken to the skies above the seas, we've gained new insight as to what's below the water. Perhaps the main thing that has been shocking viewers around the world, not surprisingly, is the proximity of sharks to surfers and the shore. In the US alone, whether in Florida or California, plenty of videos exist where sharks are within "striking distance" but simply swim nearby and observe.
Ever since Steven Spielberg's 1975 hit movie Jaws, the general public has been terrified of sharks, to the point that many people even have the irrational fear of sharks in swimming pools, lakes, ponds, and other bodies of freshwater. Jaws certainly made for great cinema, but the reality is that sharks are not what Spielberg made them out to be--they're typically just curious and can even get easily frightened. Such is the case with a video from San Diego, where we see a massive White Shark get scared off by an ornery sea lion.
While all of California can be deemed "sharky", the area between La Jolla and Del Mar--including Black's Beach, Torrey Pines, and Scripps--is an especially active area for White Sharks. The tourist operations at La Jolla Shores, like the kayak tours, like to say that sharks don't enter that zone due to the kelp beds, something that is clearly false. Sharks roam where they please and there is much we don't know about their movements.
An important thing to consider is that, not long ago, sharks far surpassed humans in biomass and population. The planet is over 70% ocean, and sharks roam in all the seas with multiple species like Tigers, White Sharks, and Bull Sharks, existing as apex predators. The mass killing of sharks is a threat to healthy ocean ecosystems and is severely disrupting the balance of our seas.
Madison Stewart, aka Shark Girl Madison, says it is best to stay calm if you do have a shark encounter in the water. "Seeing a larger shark in the water does not mean the end; sharks are highly inquisitive creatures. The key to survival is for them to see you as another predator in the ocean and not potential prey." For more on tips on shark safety, be sure to check out Madison's guide on how to survive a shark attack.
