According to a recent study on the Hawaiian shark populations showed that it is indeed true that sharks prefer the waters near some of Maui’s most popular and crowded beaches, which leads to an increasing number of shark attacks each year.

One of the things that scientists at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology say is the most important is that swimmers should not fear sharks. As absurd as that sounds – have these guys ever seen Jaws? – it’s a natural conclusion of their study.

Instead, the researchers point to the role the study can have in teaching people how to coexist with their aquatic friends. “Swimming in the ocean is swimming in what amounts to a wilderness environment. Sharks are part of this environment,” explained Bruce Anderson of Hawaii’s Division of Aquatic Resources.

Contrary to what movie franchises like Jaws seem to instill in our minds, the ocean is the sharks’ homes, which means that when we go swimming it the ocean, we’re figuratively stepping on their turf.

Once we accept that it’s normal to have sharks in the wild, we also must learn to take precautions so we avoid meeting one face to face. Unless we’re being careful, these unpleasant encounters are going to occur from time to time.

With warming ocean temperatures comes a certain expansion of the typical shark habitats, which, in turn, increased the numbers of encounters between human and sharks. But are sharks to blame, or should humans share some of the responsibility for the bloody results?

According to the study, the number of humans partaking in ocean recreation increases with each year, meaning that more people are taking up surfing or paddleboarding – both of which will put humans right in the middle of the sharks’ living, eating and socializing environment.

So why are sharks attracted to Hawaiian waters? Partly, it’s because of the food supply and the coral reefs, but also because that area is also a popular mating season hangout for sharks.

The study reached the same conclusion as the 2015 International Shark Attack File report: more people in the ocean doing recreational activities will generally an increase in the number of shark bites in Hawaii – and other places around the world, for that matter.

Peacefully coexisting with sharks can only happen when people are informed. You shouldn’t swim in murky water or go near dead animals, such as seals. “When it comes to shark interactions, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” the authors added.
Image Source: ABC News