Beneath The Surface
by Craig, Franz, Gabrial, Pari, Rounak
an apex predator lurks nearby
hunting for its prey
but just like us
it's just trying to survive
For 450 million years
sharks have roamed our oceans
They are not monsters
just creatures built to survive
Misconceptions lead to fear
fear leads to destruction
But the truth is far more beautiful
Sharks shape the balance of the sea
Their skeletons made of cartilage
fast, flexible, efficient
They are indicator species
their presence signals a healthy ocean
By hunting the weak and sick
they prevent disease
and protect biodiversity
When sharks thrive
the entire ocean thrives
Yet at the surface
their world collides with ours
Climate change has pushed sharks
into new geographic regions
Increased fishing, tourism
and coastal activities
have led to a rise in
human-shark encounters
These encounters fuel
fear, fascination, and misunderstanding
But the data tells a different story
Shark sightings have increased
as more humans enter their waters
The ocean holds us both
curiosity meets caution
each year these crossings are counted as incidents
Not every shark meets us equally
see the incidents by species
Where do sharks strike?
Mapping encounters to the human body
Incident Trends Over Time
As coastal populations grow, encounters increase—but not the rate
Rate stays stable as population grows.
Humans pose a far greater threat
to sharks than sharks do to us
Yet misconceptions persist
Fueled by media sensationalism
and a primal fear of the unknown
But the truth tells a different story
You're more likely to be killed by
a vending machine, lightning, or a cow
Meanwhile, every year
humans kill
100 millionsharks
For their fins
For sport
Out of fear
Overfishing has caused a
71%decline in oceanic sharks since 1970
pushing some species
to extinction
Regulations rise and fall
global mortality keeps score
Different ways we meet the water
each one with its own risk
Human pressure stretches worldwide
every coastline tells a story
Regional Shark Mortality Distribution
Choropleth MapThe ocean needs them
and so do we
Protect the sharks
protect the ocean
protect our future