CARTERET COUNTY, N.C. — While the big fish in the 1970's film classic "Jaws" was frightening, marine experts are taking a moment  to educate the public this Shark Week on the truth about these iconic marine lifeforms. 

Sharks are an essential part of ocean ecosystems, but people often misunderstand and fear them. This week, the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is focusing on educating the public, dispelling misconceptions and teaching people how to participate in shark conservation. 

 

What You Need to Know 

It's Shark Week

Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium is focusing on educating the public to dispel misconceptions about sharks  

Negative shark encounters are very rare 

Sharks help keep ocean ecosystems healthy

 

Sarah Wright has been working at Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium for six months, but you can tell she already loves the animals there.

“It's really just a lot of fun to talk about these amazing animals and share our passion for them with all of the guests at the aquarium,” Wright said as a friendly fish came up to the glass to say hello.

The sharks are one of the main attractions. There are four of them living in this aquarium exhibit: two male sandbar sharks, one male sand tiger shark and one female nurse shark.

During shark week, educators at the aquarium teach visitors why they shouldn't be afraid of sharks when they visit the ocean. Wright said just stay in groups, swim during the day and stay close to the shore. If you see a shark, swim away from it not toward it, and tell a lifeguard so they can keep an eye on it.

Many misconceptions about sharks are kept alive through movies and television.

“Honestly one of the biggest myths about sharks is that they're all huge with huge teeth that are just mindless eating machines,” Wright said. “That's really not the case.”

Most sharks eat fish and don't want anything to do with humans. There are only about 10 to 20 negative shark encounters every year worldwide, and one third of those are instigated by humans trying to get too close to the animals in the wild.

“There are a lot of other things that are far more likely to happen than having a negative encounter with a shark,” Wright said. “The average person is more likely to win the lottery than have a negative encounter with a shark. You're more likely to get struck by lightning then have a negative encounter with a shark. You are more likely to get injured by a vending machine then get injured by a shark. In general, it's very safe to be in the water when sharks are around. We just want to make sure we respect their space and they'll respect ours.”

Shark conservation is another big issue the aquarium staff focuses on. There are about 500 species of sharks worldwide, and about 30% of of those species are facing possible extinction. More than 100 million sharks are killed every year due to human activity.

“Sharks play a very important role in the ecosystem as predators,” Wright said. “They help to balance the population of the prey animals, and that keeps the ocean ecosystems healthy. And a healthy ocean is good for everyone, including us.”

If you want to take part in shark conservation, here are some ways you can help: 

Buy sustainably sourced seafood 

Don't let sharks get tangled in fishing lines 

Remove trash from the beach 

Find alternatives to single use plastic

“No matter what you're looking at, there's something that can be done to support conservation for the ocean and for sharks,” Wright said.