Spearfishing + Sharks
How to practice safety while spearing in sharky waters:
a discussion on shark behavior with shark safety diver, Andriana Fragola.
Article Written by Forbes Science Contributor, Ariella Simke
Shark week may be over, but our fascination with sharks never ceases. As spearos, we are in the water with these powerful animals all the time, whether we see them or not. Since the days of Jaws people have been terrified of sharks, however sharks, like any wild animal, deserve our understanding and respect. By studying shark behavior we can understand how to interact with them, have safe and respectful encounters, and avoid putting ourselves in danger.
I spoke with shark safety diver and marine biologist Andriana (Andy) Fragola to get the inside scoop on what makes sharks tick and how we can stay safe while hunting in their homes. Andy has spent thousands of hours in the water with sharks in her role with One Ocean Diving, a Hawaii-based company that offers cageless freediving experiences with sharks. She has been in the water with more than 80 sharks at once, and her job is to watch their behavior while maintaining a safe environment for both the sharks and humans that come to marvel at them. “It’s a lot of sharks to pay attention to!” she says. Above all else, Andy wants to make it clear that sharks are not interested in humans as food. It is possible to coexist in the ocean safely, and our collective fear of sharks stems from fundamental misunderstandings; “They’re not these monsters that want to eat you!” As someone who has been scuba diving since she was 12, Andy is very familiar with sharks and passionate about providing more accurate information on shark behavior to counteract some of the widespread negative biases: “The media really gives a lot of misinformation that creates so much fear for people,” she says, “but once you’re in the water with them you can really connect with them”.
We don’t know very much about sharks at all
Eric Keener and Rob White tagging sharks in Hawaii.
Research on shark behavior is limited, because until recently research was dependent on surface observations and baited interactions. Through advances in technology in recent years, scientists are now able to use drones, accelerometers, animal-attached cameras and motion sensors to obtain visual data, as well as satellite tags to track movements. These tools provide a new look into the mysterious world of sharks, allowing scientists to observe them in ways that were impossible before. Research on shark movements, behavior, and hunting is limited, however studies on white sharks suggest that behavior and hunting strategies can vary in different locations (7) . Though new technologies are being implemented into research, there is still so much we don’t know, which is why first-hand experience and observations such as Andy’s prove to be so valuable in understanding how to interact with these beautiful animals.
Sharks in California
In California, divers may encounter a number of sharks; benthic sharks, such as swell sharks, horn sharks and leopard sharks, tend to stick to the seafloor, whereas pelagic sharks inhabit the open ocean. Sharks that divers may encounter in California include sevengills (4 ), threshers, spiny dogfish, smoothhounds and blue sharks (3) . Many pelagic sharks are migratory, and act as apex predators in the ecosystem, keeping prey populations in check, and providing a critical service to the ecosystem by removing weak and injured prey. Without sharks, entire ecosystems would collapse.
White sharks (Carcharodon carcharius), which are found throughout the California coast, are perhaps the most feared of the shark species, and also the most misunderstood. With mouths full of 300 pointy teeth and the ability to swim 35 mph, they are magnificent predators. White sharks inhabit depths to 4,200 feet (6), and come close to shore to feed. White sharks were previously thought to keep to the deeper water, avoiding kelp forests, but new research suggests that’s not quite true. Researchers used “sharks-eye-view” cameras that attach to white sharks to study animal movements and behavior in South Africa (1,2) and found that much of their hunting activity occurred in the kelp forests. Additional research showed that white sharks hunt at night, as well as during low-light periods such as dawn and dusk. The research also showed that hunting activity did not solely occur in ambush-fashion, with sharks approaching rapidly from below prey (7 ). The largest predatory fish on earth, white sharks can reach lengths up to 21 feet and weigh up to 5,000 pounds (although their average weight is about half of that), which makes them quite intimidating underwater, where everything already appears 33% larger.
Spearfishing around sharks
So what does this mean for spearos? Especially spearos that fish in white shark territory? Your chances of ever encountering a shark are pretty slim, and your chances of getting attacked by one are even tinier. According to the Shark Research Committee, a non-profit that records shark encounters, along the entire Pacific coast in 2018 there were only 5 unprovoked shark attacks, all of which were in California, and none of which were fatal (8) . “The best way to approach spearing where sharks are present is to decrease the chances of a negative interaction,” Andy tells me, “they’re very shy, and the overwhelming majority of negative interactions occur when sharks mistake humans for food”. Regardless of the rarity of having such a negative encounter, she gave few tips for us to stay alert and avoid looking like prey!
1.) Avoid bad visibility
Sharks rely on their eyesight and other senses while hunting. White sharks often attack prey from below, rushing to the surface from a concealed position to grab unsuspecting marine mammals. In bad visibility, your chances of appearing like a marine mammal increase. It’s best to dive in good visibility, to give sharks more of a chance to properly identify you as something they don’t want to eat. That can be tricky in the nutrient-rich waters of California, where spearos regularly encounter poor visibility. If you don’t have much of a choice but to dive in bad viz, Andy says that body language that makes you look like a predator as well can be a powerful signal to sharks that you are not their prey...
2.) Be aware of your surroundings, and look around even if visibility is poor
By appearing aware — looking around, scanning your surroundings and keeping your head on a swivel — you are showing that you are aware and not easy prey. “Even if you can’t see anything, it can be helpful to look around you to show that you’re paying attention,” says Andy, “you are a lot less limited than you are while scuba diving, you can look more easily when you’re freediving.”
3.) Minimize splashing
“Splashing at the surface makes you look like you’re injured or struggling,” says Andy. You want to be smoother in the water and control your body movements. Sharks may be curious and come to investigate splashing, and it may be harder for them to distinguish between you and a struggling seal.
4.) Keep that bloody fish out of the water and off of your body
Fish blood, like marine mammal blood, could attract sharks to the area, because fish are prey to sharks. However, it is mainly the vibrations of a fish struggling in the water that will be attractive to sharks. Sharks have sensory organs called ampullae de lorenzini that allow them to sense electrical currents in the water. They can sense muscle contractions of fish because each contraction produces a weak electrical field. It is best to kill your fish quickly to minimize thrashing at the surface. Keeping dead or dying fish out of the water and off of your body will help avoid any negative interactions. Tossing your fish in your float or kayak while you dive is a better option.
5.) Watch for animal cues
Animals respond to predators differently, and spearos are accustomed to taking their cues from the environment. Observing other animals around you can give you many clues about the environment and the presence of predators. The study conducted in South Africa showed that fur seals, when in the presence of white sharks, would blow bubbles, swim deeper into the kelp, or hunker down on the seafloor (1, 2). Looking for cues in other animals can help you better understand your environment and detect any potential predators in the area.
6.) Ocean Guardian Shark Shields are great for peace of mind!
Andy has never used a shark deterrent in her line of work. Instead she relies on her understanding of shark behavior and keen observation skills, but she says that Ocean Guardian Shark Shields are helpful in putting your mind at ease, which is necessary to freedive effectively. One common belief is that Ocean Guardian Shark Shields will attract sharks to an area before eventually deterring them at close range, however studies have proven that this isn’t the case (11, 12). In one study, the number of white shark interactions and breaches decreased significantly when the Shark Shield was activated. Although data was limited, the study did find that the Shark Shield did not attract sharks (11). Another study, which tested five different shark deterrents using surf boards, found that the O.G. Shark Shield reduced the percentage of times that sharks took bait from 96% to 40% (12). Other studies have had varying results (13), however the consensus throughout the studies is that the O.G. Shark Shield is the most effective deterrent available to the public, while many others had little to no effect whatsoever. Whether you choose to go sans deterrent or not, rest assured that the addition of an O.G. Shark Shield won’t attract sharks to you and may aid in soothing any anxieties you have about diving in sharky waters.
So what happens if I do see a shark?
Lucky you! Most people will never encounter a shark in their entire lives, so if you are lucky enough to see one, soak it in! In the extremely unlikely event that a shark becomes assertive, Andriana says: “look it in the eye- body language is extremely powerful in communicating with animals. Face the shark head on and stand your ground. Avoid the urge to swim away quickly, and use your speargun to make space and redirect the shark”.
Other considerations…
Life stage
Stomach-content analyses of white sharks show that as juveniles their diet consists of fish, rays and invertebrates, but as they reach the sub-adult phase (approximately 3 meters) they will add marine mammals into their diet. It is during this stage that they may have more difficulty determining their new prey and be more prone to mix-ups.
Not all blood is created equal
Media coverage of sharks would have us believe that even a single drop of blood will send every shark in the ocean heading straight for you. Andy says this is not the case —in fact, sharks don’t care about human blood at all (and yes, that goes for menstrual blood too)! “I don’t get a week off every month,” she laughs. So don’t worry if you get a spontaneous nose bleed, sharks aren’t into human flavor anyway. “It’s like if you’re hungry and you smell pizza — that’s going to smell like something you want to eat,” says Andy, “but if you smell perfume, you may be aware of it, but you don’t want to sink your teeth into it. Human blood is like perfume to sharks.” This same concept was demonstrated again and again in YouTube videos like this and this where sharks were not interested in human blood introduced into the water. Where this doesn’t apply is fish. Andy recommends not keeping fish attached to your body via stringer or belt, because the smell of fish blood will register as food to sharks, even if your personal aroma will not.
What it all boils down to
While it can be difficult not to play the Jaws theme song in your head as you float on the surface of the water, looking into the murky abyss, it really comes down to respect and understanding. When we study an animal and become aware of its behavioral patterns, it becomes easier to replace fear with awe. The more we find out about sharks, the less fearsome they become. Avoiding negative interactions with sharks boils down to minimizing the possibility of them mistaking you for prey. That means being aware, maintaining control of your body, and acting like a predator yourself, and if all else fails, go for the gills.
Sources
1. Shark cameras reveal unexpected white shark behavior
2. Jewell OJD, Gleiss AC, Jorgensen SJ, Andrzejaczek S, Moxley JH, Beatty SJ, Wikelski M, Block BA, Chapple TK. 2019 Cryptic habitat use of white sharks in kelp forest revealed by animal-borne video. Biol. Lett. 15: 20190085. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2019.0085
3. California Marine Sportfish Identification: Sharks
4. Broadnose sevengill shark | Animals
5. Great white sharks, facts and photos
7. Technology provides insight into how white sharks hunt
8. Pacific Coast Shark News 2019
9. Great white sharks swim among us at San Diego County beaches
10. California Scientists Use Technology to Track Sharks
12. Effectiveness of five personal shark-bite deterrents for surfers
13. Effects of an Electric Field on White Sharks: In Situ Testing of an Electric Deterrent