Beyond "Jaws": Saving Sharks - Florida Weekly

Beyond “Jaws,” shark conservation efforts in Florida are being shaped by both the realities of shark fishing and the influence of media. David Boggs, owner of the Marco Island Sharks charter company, described guiding anglers to catch hammerhead sharks while prioritizing release, saying delays can kill the fish. He and others swim with a hammerhead, sometimes with the shark above their neck, to confirm it is alive and swimming before letting it go. The article links public perception to “Shark Week,” now nearly four decades old, which has become a major platform influencing how people think about sharks. Marine biologist Andy Dehart, former Shark Week advisor and CEO of the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, acknowledged the challenge of portraying apex predators accurately. Florida’s waters hold multiple nursery habitats and migratory routes, supported by institutions including Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch and the University of Miami.