IB Marine Final

Transcript

00:15

Misrepresentation of Sharks in Mainstream Media Ashley Haas and Sierra Adams p.6

00:25

Hollywood and the media today portray sharks as being deadly killers and monsters. This image of sharks has created a fear of sharks among many. But in reality, there are plenty of reasons not to be afraid of sharks! These fish are simply just misunderstood.

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Why shouldn't Humans Fear Sharks?

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First of all, humans are not on a shark's diet. Sharks have evolved to prey on many different animals, large and small, but humans are not one of those animals. A study conducted by Michigan State University showed that more than 52 percent of global coverage focused on shark attacks, and sharks were portrayed negatively in almost 60 percent of the coverage. However, sharks are very sensitive to their environment around them, they aren't mindless killing machines. They utilize electricity to sense the area around them through tiny holes called ampullae of Lorenzini. Additionally, just as humans use our hands to investigate, sharks use their mouths.

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If a human does happen to get bit, it's likely by accident. A surfer on his or her surfboard can look a lot like the silhouette of a seal, one of a shark's favorite meals, from under the surface of the water. Most times, the shark will realize the person is definitely NOT a seal, and will let go. The fear that sharks are out there wanting to kill swimmers is a common misconception that is worsened by the media.

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¨But shark attacks DO happen... why should I not be afriad?¨

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While attacks do happen on rare occasions, your chances of death from an attack are extremely low.

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Studies show that a person is more likely to die from a vending machine collapse, or from being struck by lightening, than from a shark attack. During a trip to the beach, you are 132x more likely to drown, and 290x more likely to die in a boating accident, than to die from a shark attack.

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So what is it that causes such a great fear of sharks in people? And why does the media portray them as monsters?

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The fear factor for most people are the rows of razor sharp teeth that sharks have. The larger the shark, the larger the teeth.

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The truth is, most sharks dangerous enough to kill you spend most of their time in deeper water where people usually don't go swimming.

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Some solutions to consider...

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The ultimate route to changing the way sharks are portrayed in the media, is to educate people on the truth behind them and eliminate fears. A widespread education on sharks would lead to a greater push for their conservation, and increase emphasis on Marine Protected Areas and shark finning laws.

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Doing research on sharks through books and valid educational websites can help spread awareness about the truth of sharks, and contribute to resolving the issue of a false representation of sharks in the media.

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Additionally, visiting an aquarium to learn about sharks, their natural habitats, behaviors, and food preferences, can ease fears on these misunderstood creatures.

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Sources:

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-Baker, H. (2020, March 07). Friends or foes? The media's portrayal of sharks & the influence on human perspectives. Retrieved December 15, 2020, from https://marinemadness.blog/2020/03/07/friends-or-foes-the-medias-portrayal-of-sharks-the-influence-on-human-perspectives/ -Cameron, L. (2012, November 07). Sharks: Bad creatures or bad image? Retrieved December 15, 2020, from https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2012/sharks-bad-creatures-or-bad-image/ -Hettermann, K. (2017, July 25). Are You Afraid of Sharks? Don't Be. Retrieved December 15, 2020, from https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/are-you-afraid-of-sharks-dont-be/ -Zachos, E. (2019, June 27). Why are we afraid of sharks? There's a scientific explanation. Retrieved December 15, 2020, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2018/01/sharks-attack-fear-science-psychology-spd/

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Thanks for watching! We hope you learned something new about sharks in the media, and how we can prevent the misinterpretation of them. :)