A basic marine food chain starts with phytoplankton as the lowest level, followed above by zoo planktion, then filter feeding fish and predators/top predators, with super predators at the top. Are the top layers removed or at least decimated to the point that they can not control their lower level (their food source) anymore, that level can grow exponentially what leads to an elimination of their food base, and so on. Sharks, as the most abundant top predators over 100 lbs or 50 kg are the most crucial representatives at the top of most marine food chains. Should the overfishing of sharks contine in such a magnitude, the desctruction of most marine ecosystems will follow.

Most of the known shark species can sometimes be observed gliding through the water. Gliding is presumed to preserve energy. But energy saving in sharks can also be accomplished by laying on the bottom. Such, however, needs strong gill muscles to force enough water over the gills.

For many years, sportfishermen where asked by scientisits to catch sharks, tag them and let them go again, to get data should the same shark be caught again. This practice should not be allowed anymore. It is cruel to reel in a shark for the sake of giving it a tag. Even more so, since the shark has to be caught for a second time to get actual data from the animal. But even then, the gained data is poor and mostly inaccurate. The only justification for this type of procedure is using satellite tags, but even then, the past showed that not much has been done with that data either.

When it comes to shark bites, Florida has worldwide the most bites each year. However, in early years, the interpretation of these bite numbers were hardly ever satisfying since all that was done was to pinpoint where it happened and how many times. Due to this shortcoming, we introduced SatScan, a spatial scan statistical tool to get a better idea what really goes on. In addition to, we introduced 'bite rate,' a ratio between number of bites per area to number of people at this particular beach. Of course, the latter was not always easy to get, but most data stemmed from the United States Lifesaving Associations who collects so called 'beach attendances.' Where no number was available like non-populated shores with minimal activity, we had to use adjacent beaches to get a proxy. These results are the first of its kind. They give a much more solid idea of what really happens at the East coast of Florida.

Our research clearly showed that a shark stays farther away (significantly) from a person if he/she is in a vertical position instead of a horizontal one. Due to that, we propose that whenever you are facing a shark to get into a vertical position. Should the water be too deep to stand, let your feet dangle, and only move with your arms to keep position, and to pivot around your body axis to follow the shark with your eyes. This show dissects the vertical position and its advantages over the horizontal one.

Sharks have often been called (purely) instinct driven creatures. This implies that thery have no emotions. But can that truly be? Even more so, since even people who deny emotions in sharks, agree that shark are "aggressive" or "frustrated." Well, both of them, are emotions. Being in the water with sharks all the time showed me, over and over, that this animal must possess emotions. There is no reason to assume that sharks do not have them. Although we never know what a shark truly thinks, we can at least be open enough about it. Look a shark in the eye the next time you see one and assume that there are no emotions. It won't work.

When it comes to shark bites, a variety of parameters have been mentioned that may play a role in it. It was said in the past that e.g. full and new moon increases shark bites. There is no correlation between moon cycle and shark bites, as our research showed. But then there are air pressure changes, weather fronts, rain etc to name a few meteorological parameters that could play a role, as goes for low or high water salinity, freshwater influence and so on. Many of these parameters could influence the outcome of a shark interaction but we often lack hard data since conditions often quickly chance after a bite and are also not easy to be collected fromt the times prior to the event.

Quite often when sharks are mentioned on TV, the print media or on the air, they are hardly presented in a flattering manner but rather portrait as dangerous, unpredictable and instinct driven. However, these attributes are incorrect. That begs the question why the true nature of these animals is hardly mentioned in the media. A main reason is that producers, journalists and radio hosts often fail doing their reseach on the subject but follow their initial opinion they had before starting their projects. And it is this attitude that prevents people who watch TV, read the paper or listen to a radio show from getting the true picture about this incredible animals.

When it comes to sharks, plenty organisations have one thing in common, they pretend. They claim this or that but once you start digging you realize that they don't really do anything. Just writing about the plight of sharks and point a finger at a person or a group of people who contribute to the devastation of sharks does not qualify to be an activist group. It is one thing to write about a cause, and quite another to stand up and actually fight the cause right where it happens. If all these groups who claim to be shark activists would actually live up to the way they see themselves, we probably would not be where we are right now.

We often hear "sharks do this" or "sharks do that" but the very shark does not exist. There is no shark out there that would reflect the behavior or character trait of an entire species or even the entire group of shark species. Every shark is unique, represents an individual that thinks and acts in a distinctive manner, even in seemingly the same situation. As much as the very shark does not exist, the same is true for a situation. No situation is the same, even if identical parameters seem to influence the scenario a shark is in with a person. Most of the time, people are not aware of the slight chances that may happen during the seemingly same situation. It is paramount to understand that one has to treat every shark as unique, and always rejudge the situation when another shark pops up.