As "Shark Week" returns to television, wildlife biologist and conservationist Forrest Galante is offering advice on how to reduce the already slim chances of a negative shark encounter. Galante, host of the upcoming Discovery special "Alien Sharks: Untamed America," stressed that while shark attacks are rare, simple common sense can further enhance safety for beachgoers.
Galante recommends avoiding swimming during dawn and dusk, as sharks are most active and likely to feed closer to shore during these crepuscular periods. He also advised against swimming near river mouths, which can attract baitfish and sharks. Swimming alone is another risk factor that should be avoided, similar to other outdoor activities.
"If you see no one on the beach, that's usually not a good place to go swimming," Galante noted. He also cautioned against entering the water where people are fishing, as bait being cast into the ocean can attract sharks.
Mistaken Identity and Shiny Objects
Galante explained that most shark bites are a result of mistaken identity, with sharks investigating potential prey. He warned that shiny objects, such as jewelry or sequins, can reflect light in a way that resembles a school of bait fish, potentially attracting a shark's attention. "They don't have hands," Galante said. "They can't feel it, so that investigative bite can be very, very damaging and, in some cases, fatal."
He also highlighted a less obvious risk: making sounds that mimic prey. "The crackling of a water bottle, or even the crunching of a beer can, sounds a lot like the crunching of fish bones to a shark, and it can make them come and investigate," Galante stated, advising against crushing beer cans underwater.
Despite the dramatic portrayals on television, Galante reassured the public that most sharks are not actively hunting humans. "We're not even on the menu. They're just trying to figure out if we are," he said. Taking basic precautions, he added, can significantly lower the risk of a negative encounter.
Galante's special, "Alien Sharks: Untamed America," explores various shark species found in U.S. waters, including glow-in-the-dark swell sharks and seagrass-eating bonnethead sharks. The program premieres on Discovery and Max.