Community Corner
Video: Experts Dispel Shark Fears
Specialists from the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium and CSU Long Beach reveal the not-so-dangerous side of sharks, among other fun facts.
The Discovery Channel's "Shark Week" is well underway, and local experts are eager to dismiss the view that all sharks are bloodthirsty hunters. Patch visited two Southern California aquariums and a university to get the facts straight.
"More people are killed by coconuts every year worldwide than get killed by sharks," said Chris Brodie, outreach manager at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium.
In the South Bay area, mainly docile swell sharks, leopard sharks and horn sharks roam the waters. White sharks are spotted on occasion.
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Dr. Chris Lowe, who teaches marine biology at CSU Long Beach, spends much of his time in the field tagging and tracking sharks. They are an important component of the ecosystem, and "aren't just something menacing or scary or entertaining," he said.
