Humans are shark killers, not the other way around. Fighting ocean stereotypes

A shark can kill a human, but it is humans who pose a far greater threat to sharks. Over 100 million sharks are killed by humans every year – a serious loss for ocean ecosystems. American swimmer Lewis Pugh has taken on the challenge of raising public awareness and debunking harmful stereotypes. He swam 60 km in open water near the filming location of Jaws. And that’s just the beginning of his efforts to protect sharks.

Humans: the greatest threat to sharks and… ecosystem balance

In 2024, there were only 7 recorded fatal shark attacks on humans, 4 of which were unprovoked. Now compare that to the number of sharks killed by humans – 274,000 per day, or more than 100 million annually. Sharks are killed for their meat, cartilage (used in joint supplements), or for sport and entertainment. They’re often victims of illegal, unreported fishing. Many also get entangled in discarded fishing nets and die as a result.

These losses are a serious blow to the oceans, where sharks serve as indicator species. A strong shark population signals ecosystem balance. Sharks help maintain biodiversity, which in turn makes ecosystems more resilient to climate change. A decline in their numbers threatens this natural balance and could make it harder for ecosystems to cope with rising temperatures and increasing pollution.

Sharks – the most harmful myths

It’s worth seeing sharks in a broader context, not just as Hollywood portrays them. Learning more about these creatures helps eliminate irrational fear. Here are several common myths about sharks:

• Sharks don’t hunt humans. We are not part of their diet. Their food sources vary – depending on the species, they eat large fish, seals, squid, or mollusks. Incidents involving humans are rare, and when they do happen, they result in injuries rather than consumption.
• Not all sharks are predators. Some species feed mainly on fish eggs. These include basking sharks and whale sharks.
• Sharks inhabit most ocean areas, not just warm waters – from coastal shallows to deep sea. They can even be found in rivers and lakes.
• Shark fins do not grow back. If a fin is cut off and the shark is thrown back into the water, it becomes easy prey for other predators.
• Shark fins are not nutritious; they contain no valuable nutrients or healing properties. The myth of their special health benefits is particularly harmful, as it drives mass shark hunting. In reality, harmful metabolic byproducts accumulate in fins, so eating them – even in small amounts–can be detrimental to human health.

It’s worth quoting Peter Benchley, author of the novel Jaws, later adapted into a film by Steven Spielberg:

I could never write Jaws today. Knowing what I now know about sharks, I could not write a character with such malevolent intent in good conscience.

From fear to respect. Will Shark Swim change how we see sharks?

Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod – this location was no coincidence. It was here that Jaws was filmed 50 years ago. American swimmer Lewis Pugh chose this spot for his Shark Swim – a Shark Marathon aimed at raising awareness about sharks’ role in ecosystems and debunking harmful stereotypes.

In May 2025, Lewis Pugh swam 60 km, covering 10 km each day. Between swims, he took part in public meetings, engaged with shark researchers and local authorities. Through these actions, he aimed to promote shark conservation.

Shark Swim is not over. The initiative will be extended to other regions of the world. Its main goal is to turn fear into healthy respect – practically speaking, it aims to engage and educate 1 billion people and support the 30×30 initiative, which seeks to protect 30% of the world’s ocean areas by 2030.

---

main photo: Oleksandr Sushko/Unsplash