Busted: Three Myths about Sharks You Should Know
Every year Shark Week creates excitement and sometimes fear about sharks, so we wanted to bust some myths about these magnificent fish.
iStockHe may be the most decorated Olympian in history, but Michael Phelps is no match for a great white shark.
Shark Myth No. 1: Michael Phelps is faster than a great white shark
In a pool, ocean, bay, sea, river, kiddie pool, bathtub, whatever body of water you can name, Michael Phelps cannot outswim a great white. MP may be known as the Flying Fish, Baltimore Bullet and Mr. Swimming, but the greatest swimmer of all time, who has been timed at 6 mph, is not even close to being as fast as a great white, which can clock speeds up to 25 mph. On the other hand, a great white shark will never win a single gold medal, never mind 23.
iStockThe biggest fish in the sea — the whale shark — eats microscopic food, not people.
Shark Myth No. 2: Sharks are man-eaters
We have the movie Jaws to thank for this one. But it's just not true. Sharks don’t like the way we taste. In fact, the largest fish in the sea, the whale shark, is a filter feeder that strains microscopic bits of plankton through modified gills. It’s true that some species of sharks have bitten people, but humans are not their preferred food. And many species of sharks have more to fear from us than we do from them. See Shark Myth No. 3.
iStockSharks like the hammerhead — which searches for crustaceans and stingrays on the ocean floor — are critical to the health of the ocean's marine communities.
Shark Myth No. 3: Sharks should be culled where there are a lot of people swimming, snorkeling or diving in the ocean
This is one that deeply hurts our hearts — but the practice, which does exist, also hurts the ocean. Sharks play a critical role in marine ecosystems and help maintain the delicate balance of life. Many species sit at the top of the food chain, keeping other marine animal populations in check and thinning out the sick and weak. In short, they keep the entire ocean healthy.
If watching Shark Week is your guilty pleasure, we won't stop you. But next time someone says they're afraid to dive because of sharks, we hope you'll take the time to educate them.
