The time has finally come to welcome the 28th annual "Shark Week!" Discovery Channel originally started airing this summer event in hopes of trying to educate people about sharks, the dangers they pose, and more importantly, the danger that we (humans!) are to them. Because of its continued popularity, "Shark Week" offers episodes of fact AND fiction; for example, last year they focused on Megaladon, the monster shark (it's extinct). Here are some more things that are important to enjoying Shark Week 2015!
The only acceptable way to watch "Shark Week" (Discovery Channel approved... I wish). 
To make the transition to human burrito easier, add pizza and wine.
But now on to the really important parts:
FYI, sharks live in the ocean. Recently, there has been some confusion about this as there have been shark attacks off the coast of the Carolinas and Florida. Every time that you step into the ocean, you are stepping into a shark's home uninvited. Now, I'm not saying stay out of the ocean, because I spent my childhood summer on the beaches of North Carolina! Just be aware. There are some seriously misunderstood facts about sharks as well. Some important things to know:
There are several species of sharks that are endangered or in critical condition. They should be more afraid of us than we are of them. Here is Discovery.com's explanation as to why sharks are vulnerable:
"For most of their 400 million years on the planet, sharks evolved in relative isolation from humans. More recently, our activities have encroached on their territory. Aside from the direct problems posed by finning and fishing, shark populations have been weakened by habitat destruction and environmental pollution. Toxic chemicals, such as those from discarded consumer electronics, can enter the food chain, accumulate in shark bodies, and may lead to shark immune system disorders and other health problems.
Shark populations cannot just bounce back from exploitation, due to their slow growth rates and long gestation periods. The shortest known gestation period in a shark is five months, such as for the bonnethead shark, and that is still a relatively long time compared to what other animals experience. The spiny dogfish has an even longer gestation time, at 22 months. Sharks are also slow growing. Mothers produce few pups per litter. In contrast, bony fishes tend to recover faster from over-fishing, since they can lay multiple eggs and reproduce at a much speedier pace."
That's some scary stuff. How many sharks die because of humans? Way more than the number of people hurt in shark attacks. Without sharks, there can be no "Shark Week!" Here is what you can do so that we don't lose this holiday week!
"How to Save the Sharks:
— Establishing and enforcing science-based catch limits for sharks and rays
— Ensuring an end to shark finning
— Improving the monitoring of fisheries taking sharks and rays
— Investing in shark and ray research and population assessment
— Minimizing incidental catch of sharks and rays
— Cooperating with other countries to conserve shared populations
Environmental organizations, such as the Sharklife Conservation Group, also urge individuals to do their part to help in the shark recovery effort. Individuals can write to state representatives about the problem, bring community awareness by writing to local papers and speaking to friends and colleagues, and avoid certain products, such as shark fin soup and goods made out of such things as sharkskin and shark teeth. Through volunteer time and donations, support to environmental groups perhaps makes the greatest positive impact, as evidenced by pressure that such organizations put on the United Nations in the early 1990s. In 1991, the U.N. banned high-seas drift-net fisheries, which led to a slow, yet discernible, recovery of salmon sharks in the North Pacific. Hope persists, so long as dedicated governments, groups and individuals do not give up on sharks."
In summary, sharks are apex predators and deserve some respect; they are not to be played with. Be aware that when you step into the ocean, you're in their territory. Remember that household dogs cause more deaths per year than sharks do. Really, they are just misunderstood creatures.
Enjoy "Shark Week!"
