The Shark Trust: Celebrity Shark Bait position statement

The Shark Trust has received many enquiries about its position on the forthcoming reality TV programme "Celebrity Shark Bait". Our official position statement can be found below.

We are interested to hear your thoughts on this programme. Email us on: enquiries@sharktrust.org or join in the discussion on our Forum.

The Shark Trust has been in direct communication with Granada TV and has been promised a viewing of this programme before it goes to air.

For comprehensive factual information on Shark/Human interaction incidences, please follow the link at the bottom of the page.

"Celebrity Shark Bait"
Shark Trust Position

Reality TV fills our prime-time viewing and in order to maintain ratings many of these programmes use celebrities, quite literally, as bait for the viewing public. The latest offering in this genre is Granada TV's "Celebrity Shark Bait", billed as 'a celebration of the 30th anniversary of Jaws'. Despite not yet going to air "Celebrity Shark Bait" has sparked a great deal of media attention.

The Shark Trust does not condone any form of entertainment that seeks to exploit sharks, compounding the tired old image of sharks as mindless man-eaters - an image that in the 30 years since the production of Jaws has been shown to be largely undeserved. The Trust hopes that "Celebrity Shark Bait" will be taking a more constructive, innovative approach to the presentation of sharks, an approach that will allow "Celebrity Shark Bait" to stand out from the endless 'Shark attack', 'Danger in the water' genre of shark based programming.

Cage diving in South Africa is a highly regulated activity that affords a growing number of individuals a privileged opportunity to witness White Sharks in the wild. The Shark Trust has been assured by Granada TV that Celebrity Shark Bait follows all necessary protocols.

Ideally, sharks would be allowed to approach the cages without enticement with chum (fish blood and oil bait), however tour operators like to guarantee a sighting, and use 'chum' – to create a scent trail for the shark to follow. They may also trail model seal silhouettes to encourage sharks to surface.

Several theories abound with regards incidence of shark attack and an increase in shark tourism, but the Trust is yet to receive any compelling evidence to connect the two and recognises that, in the vast majority of cases, attacks do not take place near shark dive locations.

It is an unfortunate fact that sharks and man do occasionally come into contact, however, in many instances, additional factors are not reported – spear fishermen with their catch on their belts, swimming in close proximity to fishing boats discharging waste – indeed any activity that may place an individual in proximity to something the shark may associate with food.

Linked with an increase in recreational water use, it is unfortunately inevitable that incidence of conflict will continue. However, it should be noted that fatal encounters globally still number less than 10 people per year.

Undoubtedly the programme will be edited to give a sense of danger and excitement, however the Shark Trust hopes the overriding message from the celebrities will be one of awe and privilege at coming face to face with one of the greatest super-predators of all time.

"Mouthing"
Fact– Great white sharks often "mouth" cages. Whether this is due to curiosity, agonistic response (a response related to aggression/threat and conciliation/retreat) or because of being attracted by the electromagnetic field given off by the cage immersed in seawater is not clear, so motivation may greatly vary. There is no reason to believe that such a shark is trying to devour the person within the cage. Most eco-tour operators explain this when briefing their clients.

Florida Museum of Natural History, International Shark Attack Files.
www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Sharks/ISAF/ISAF.htm

Source: www.sharktrust.org