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In the movie Jaws, a great white shark is depicted as a monster out to kill whomever and whatever it can find in the water.
In real life, sharks killing humans is rare. When it does happen, it makes front-page news.
The US database International Shark Attack File (ISAF) says the risk of being attacked by a shark is “extremely low”. It registered 57 “unprovoked attacks” worldwide in 2022, five of which were fatal: two in South Africa, two in Egypt and one in the United States.
There were also 32 “provoked attacks”, for example because people were fishing in the vicinity of the incident or bait was floating in the water. No overview is yet available for 2023.

So why are we still so afraid of them? Simon Weigmann, a marine biologist and shark researcher, says there are various reasons. One is that we have many films in which sharks are portrayed as monstrous.
Some shark breeds, like adult great white sharks and tiger sharks, look like cliché monsters – they are big, have gigantic mouths and have many teeth.
Another is also the fear of being eaten. This can seem more terrifying than, say, being stung by certain deadly jellyfish, which do not look as threatening as sharks.
The sea has always been a bit scary, because you cannot see what is coming from below and there is no control over that. On land, there are many animals that can kill, whether that is a snake biting someone or a mosquito that transmits diseases, but they can often be seen and there is a semblance of control over your fate.
This is like the fear of flying, which many people also have, even though the probability of having a car accident is much higher than being in an aeroplane crash.
Some of the reported shark attacks could have been the result of mistaken identity.

There have been cases in Egypt where animal carcasses have been disposed of in the ocean, the blood of which lures sharks close and they attack what they think is a dead body. Surfers, too, might be attacked because, from below, the silhouette of their surfboards look like those of seals.
An indication that sharks are confused is if they take a test bite before swimming away. Although they realise that they have not found prey – in the case of great white sharks, it is assumed that they do not like human flesh – this can still be a fatal injury.
What should you do if you spot a shark while swimming in the sea?
Sharks have excellent senses, and they can detect highly diluted blood in the water. However, they usually need several sensory stimuli: for example, if they detect an increased heartbeat in the vicinity, they might expect to find an injured animal.
This does not mean that you should avoid the sea if you have a small wound or a cut finger. Unless you are in an area where authorities have said there are sharks, they are not likely to come straight away.
If you see a small shark while snorkelling – unfortunately quite rare nowadays – you do not have to panic. These can be happily observed. However, never attempt to touch them.

There are over 500 shark species in the world, and it is assumed that only about a dozen of these species pose any kind of danger to humans. Only three species have been responsible for fatal attacks: the great white shark, the tiger shark and the bull shark.
If you see a large shark, stay as calm as possible. That may sound easier said than done, but there is no point in attempting to swim away, as it can swim much faster than you.
Keep your eyes fixed on the shark and maintain eye contact. Do not turn your back. If possible, avoid making rapid splashing movements, as this is what an injured animal would do.
Try to make yourself taller in the water, and swim away as slowly and in as controlled a manner as possible. Gain distance and get out of the water.
If a shark does attack you, try to hit its sensory organs. However, be careful if you attempt to punch one on the nose, where many of its sensory cells are located, or the eyes – you do not want to accidentally put your hand in its mouth.
Hitting one on the nose probably works much better in films than in reality, anyway.


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Some people have a queasy feeling when swimming – and others will not even go into the sea. Is Jaws to blame for our fear of sharks like this sand tiger shark? Photo: TNS

Some shark breeds, like adult great white sharks, look like cliché monsters. Photo: Shutterstock

A shark attack warning sign at Newcomb Hollow Beach in the US state of Massachusetts. Sharks have excellent senses, and they can detect highly diluted blood in the water. Photo: AP

Only three species have been responsible for fatal attacks: the great white shark (pictured), the tiger shark and the bull shark. Photo: TNS

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The Pioneer Cabin Tree in Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Photo: AFP

Visitors take photos on the stump of the Discovery Tree. Photo: Instagram/con_etta

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A still from Seaspiracy. Photo: Netflix

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Filmmaker and ocean-lover Ali Tabrizi in a still from Seaspiracy. Photo: Netflix

Great white sharks fled to avoid being hunted by liver-eating killer whales

Orcas, the ocean’s apex predator, have been known to prey on killer sharks. File photo: TNS

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Some people have a queasy feeling when swimming – and others will not even go into the sea. Is Jaws to blame for our fear of sharks?


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