Fun and Informative Links for Shark Week
We’ve gone swimming with sharks in Tahiti and we’ve caught them in various places including Panama, Florida and Delaware. Like many of you, we’re fascinated with these prehistoric creatures, and each time we encounter them we learn a little bit more. There are 440 different species across eight orders, and while there are similarities there are also some significant distinctions. The following links are hardly a comprehensive study of sharks, but they should pique your interest as they did ours.
Articles About Sharks
Here’s a fun survey of articles to start your deep dive into the world of sharks. It’s a fun path to go down.
This is the 1967 Peter Benchley article that led to Jaws. “Irrational behavior has always been man’s reaction to the presence of sharks. Ever since man first returned to the sea, sharks have held all the terror and fascination of an ax murder.” This story and its aftermath defined how many of us think about these see creatures.
The First Rule of Bite Club? Talk About It.
“The odds of being attacked by a shark are less than one in 11 million, which makes it nearly impossible to find people to turn to when you become that one. Enter a support group of survivors called the Bite Club—the most exclusive club nobody wants to join.”
8-Foot-Long Bull Shark Pulled from Potomac River
This beast was caught a substantial distance from the portion of the Potomac that I call my home waters, but it still gives me a little bit of pause. In drier years I’ve caught plenty of bluefish and stripers among the bass, so why not old toothy?
Just another reason not to swim in the Amazon tributaries – in addition to caiman, piranhas, snakes and who-knows-what-else, the Amazon also has bull sharks? Hell, I can get threatened at home on the Potomac by those (see above).
12 Shark Facts That May Surprise You
NOAA does a great job of making sharks interesting, accessible and borderline cuddly.
Books About Shark Fishing
For some longer reading options, check out the following:
Shark Conservation Organizations
While many people fear sharks, fairly or not, and they often seem plentiful, some species are endangered or otherwise threatened. There are a number of groups working to conserve shark populations around the globe. The following is a starter list of such efforts. As always, before participating or contributing, make sure that they’re aligned with your values, and if you’re looking for a tax deduction consult your accountant before assuming anything.
