We Need Sharks

Everyone loves Shark Week. But from a distance, right? Not resident shark expert Dr. Toby Daly-Engel. The assistant professor and director of the Florida Tech Shark Conservation Lab of the Department of Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences has spent plenty of time with sharks of all sizes.

As we gear up for The Discovery Channel’s Shark Week in August, Daly-Engel shares her thoughts on laws that affect shore fishing for sharks in Melbourne Beach. 

“Before these (2019) laws, there were no regulations or permits for shark fishing,” Daly-Engel said. “Although most fishermen practice common sense, they may not realize that sharks have long life spans, and once they are gone, it takes a while to repopulate.”

Sharks are predators, who sit at the top of the food chain. But what does that really mean? The job of a shark is to prey on weak and sick animals, to keep fish populations down, and balance the ocean ecosystem. Without sharks, we would have population explosions in other species that would lead to food shortages. 

“Sharks were on the Earth before the dinosaurs, yet 100 million are killed annually,” Daly-Engel said. “You are more likely to get killed by a hippo or a vending machine than a shark. We are not their prey.”

Even responsible fishermen, who may want to snap a picture for Instagram and release sharks back into the water, don’t realize that many sharks die from the experience. They are easily stressed when they are no longer submerged and can’t seem to recover. They need cool water and will go as far as they can physically tolerate to find it.

This also means sharks only need enough water to cover their bodies. So a 12” high shark needs only 12” of water. In fact, thousands of black tipped sharks were spotted swimming within 30 yards from shore.

“They’ve always been there,” Daly-Engel said. “We just know about it now because they are tagged.”

Tagging also provides information on migration patterns. The Indian River Lagoon used to be the nursery for bull shark babies, the most northern point for travel. However, with climate changes and water temperatures warming, the nursery has moved to the coast of North Carolina, where the water temperature suits bull sharks best.

Why the fascination with these mysterious creatures? We fear what we can’t see, and the fear of the unknown is a strong force. But the truth is sharks attack when they believe they’ve encountered something weak or sick in the water, or if they are caught offguard and startled. 

“Most shark attacks are cases of mistaken identity,” shared Toby. “They don’t hunt for hunger.”

So as you enjoy Shark Week 2020 from the safety of your couch, just remember, you have a greater chance of dying from a selfie than a shark!

Florida Tech Shark Conservation Lab

research.fit.edu/dalyengellab/

Learn the rules:

https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/sharks/ 

Florida laws regarding sharks:

flrules.org/gateway/ChapterHome.asp?Chapter=68B-44 

Shark Week

go.discovery.com/tv-shows/shark-week/

Facebook: /sharkweek

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