VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – It is Shark Week! Learn more about the ocean predators with the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center.
The Senior Curator of Fishes, Skylar Snowden, spoke to Digital Host Sarah Goode in a live conversation at the WAVY Digital Desk. Watch the conversation in the video player on this page.
Snowden said Shark Week is about awareness. It is an opportunity to highlight a vulnerable animal for a whole week. And, sharks need to be protected.
It’s about keeping the ocean in balance. Snowden says overfishing is a big concern. It can lead to overpopulation of animals, lack of food sources, and more.
The aquarium has multiple shark species on-site. They have Sand Tiger Sharks, Zebra Sharks, Sand Bar Sharks, Nurse Sharks, and smaller species. One smaller species is called a Chain Catshark.
“Every single one of our animals in true words, are ambassadors for the whole species,” says Snowden.
She is comfortable with sharks. She works with a large team, caring for, training, and studying them. One mission for the team, promoting education over fear.
“They deeply care about these animals and their problems in the wild. And, they really, really want people to come in here to aquariums, zoos, museums, all those types of things, and learn as much as they can from these animals,” said Snowden.
For those afraid? Snowden says, “We are not on their menu”.
Although sharks might accidentally bite a human, it is usually an accident. They mistake humans for other sea life.
Another reason, sharks are efficient when finding food.
“They like to go after things that are sick, dead, dying, weak, injured – they are going to target those kinds of things. And if you’re making the noises that mimic that there could be a mistake made,” said Snowden. “They are not going to go after something perfectly healthy because it’s just a waste of energy on their part.”
Have you ever wondered why sharks do not eat the fish in the aquarium? Snowden says it’s two-fold.
First, as she said with energy expenditure, the fish in the aquarium are healthy and cared for by a team of marine biologists, veterinarians, researchers, and more. Second, the sharks are well fed.
Shark Week Events
The aquarium has a few Shark themed events happening.
- Duck Donuts: The Virginia Aquarium and Duck Donuts are teaming up! Now through July 30, donate to the Virginia Aquarium Foundation and receive a free coupon for a free shark-themed donut at Duck Donuts locations in Virginia Beach, Suffolk, and Williamsburg. Find more details here.
- Shark Talk: The Cultural Influence of the JAWS Film: On Thursday, August 3, visit the Aquarium for this free lecture from Virginia Wesleyan University Professor Kathy Merlock Jackson. Hear about Jaws, its meaning, the legacy, and more. It is at 6 p.m. in the Giant Screen Theater.
- Sharks After Dark (+21): On Thursday, August 3 at 6:30 p.m. enjoy a special adult evening at the aquarium. Explore the exhibits and animals without the daytime crowd. Tickets are required. Members can attend for free.
Learn more about the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center’s Shark Week events, here.
