A researcher at Dalhousie University in Halifax is working to change the reputation of sharks by teaching New Scots how to protect themselves when they enter the water.
“We are now at a stage where their populations are declining and there is a lot of work to change the name of the shark and make people see that these animals are not meaningless,” said Vanessa Schiliro, a marine biology student at Dal. . Monday on CBC Radio Main Street.
“They’re actually very important to our oceans and they help keep them balanced and healthy.”
That’s why last month Schiliro created a short video outlining things to do and not to do about shark safety.
He said he was inspired to make the educational video because of the increased sightings in Atlantic Canada in recent years, including an alleged attack.
Last August, a 21-year-old woman he was bitten by what was believed to be a shark in the waters of Cape Breton. There have been no confirmed shark attacks in Canadian waters since 1870.
Robert Hueter, chief scientist at Ocearch, a U.S.-based shark monitoring organization, has said that great whites prefer cooler waters and that climate change is pushing warmer waters further north each year is possible . More and more great white sharks will move to Atlantic Canada.
Schiliro said that great white sharks are usually found in coastal waters from July to November, which is when neo-Scots should be prepared and know how to protect themselves.
LISTENING | How to stay safe around sharks in Nova Scotia:
Mainstreet NS8: 07How to stay safe around sharks in Nova Scotia
A Dalhousie University researcher wants to know: Are you a smart shark? With more and more creatures appearing in our waters, Vanessa Schiliro says it’s important to talk about shark safety. It offers some things to do and not to do while in the waters of Nova Scotia.
Here’s what to do and what not to do for swimmers, surfers and divers when it comes to shark safety.
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Schiliro said anyone who enters the water should first know their surroundings.
Explore the water before entering. Always check for seals in the area, or any other creatures that may be caught by sharks.
“If there are seals, there are likely to be sharks,” he said, adding that people should move away from these areas.
He said people should also be aware of what is going on around them. For example, if there are seals nearby, see how they behave. If they avoid the water, this could mean that there is a shark nearby.
He also recommended swimming in groups and staying close to the shore.
“If something happens, you’ll be quicker to get help if needed and you’ll be able to get out of the water faster if there’s a shark nearby.”
Don’t do it
Schiliro said people should avoid this water when there is poor visibility, including cloudy or cloudy conditions. This could make it difficult to detect movements in the water.
He said people should also stay out of the water when there are fishing activities or animal remains nearby, and at dawn and dusk when sharks tend to hunt.
When you enter the water, Schiliro said that people should avoid wearing bright, contrasting colors. White sharks only see shades of gray, so anything that stands out in the darker water “could pique your interest.”
For the same reason, people should avoid wearing bright clothes or jewelry.
“Shiny jewelry can look like fish scales, glistening underwater, which can be an attraction.”
What to do if you come across a shark
Schiliro said that if you come across a shark, don’t panic.
“When you panic, it takes away our ability to react in a conscious way and it’s only important to realize that just because you see a shark, it doesn’t mean it’s coming to attack.”
He said you should watch the shark and avoid frantic movements like screaming, splashing and swimming too fast. These movements mimic what frightened prey would do.
“Ultimately, you want to prove you’re a predator and not a prey and not act like you’re panicking once you see the shark,” he said.
He said that if the shark approaches, he recommends creating a cushioning space. Surfers can use their surfboard and divers can use any equipment they have.
“Create space with this and just try to stay calm, move carefully and get out of the water with little energy and noise.”
Schiliro said he hopes this advice will alleviate people’s fear of sharks.
“We just want to be respectful of the animal. It’s a wild animal like a bear or a snake. [these are] just some basic things we can keep in mind for both us and the shark, ”he said.
“I really want people to realize that we’re probably a bigger threat to sharks than to us.”