Out of the nearly 500 different species of shark that inhabit the oceans today, only a dozen or so have ever been known to go after humans. And even in those cases, it’s only believed to have happened because the shark was confused or curious. So, despite what movies like Jaws or The Meg have shown us over the years, there aren’t any sharks roaming near the shoreline, looking for people to eat.

In fact, sharks tend to prefer smaller fish and invertebrates. When it comes to us, it’s an old cliché but it rings true – they’re more scared of you than you are of them. Of course, everybody should know how to decrease the chances of encountering a shark. And if you happen upon one, here's what you should do.

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