Marco Magazzu: "A mosquito is much more dangerous than a shark"

PalmaThe first time Marco Magazzu (Rome, 1990) swam in Thailand next to giant manta rays, he almost drowned. “Seriously, I started crying. I would do the same if I had the luck to find sharks in their natural habitat, in the open sea. I would do it out of emotion, not fear!”, he confesses. A marine biologist with a master's degree in Aquatic Ecology, he is part of the technical team of the Palma Aquarium Foundation, responsible for the Balearic Islands' cetacean stranding network. He also takes care of and rehabilitates turtles, but today he is here to debunk Spielberg and correct the bad reputation of sharks.

Why do you think sharks arouse so much fascination and, at the same time, so much fear?

— They are fantastic animals. There are many species, of very different sizes and characteristics. The whale shark, for example, is one of the largest fish in the world, but there are also those that fit in the palm of your hand, fluorescent ones, and others capable of walking out of the water. They are predators perfectly adapted to their environment, made for swimming and hunting in an incredible way. Many of them have impressive dentition. All this awakens curiosity and fascination, but it has also contributed to fueling a reputation that does them no justice.

Why is it not justified?

— Because they are not aggressive animals towards people. We share the sea with them and, if you understand a little about their biology and behavior, it is perfectly possible to coexist without negative interactions. We are not part of their menu. On the other hand, dolphins always appear as great friends of humans, when an encounter with a wild group can generate many more problems than a shark.

What do you think is the biggest myth about sharks?

— Precisely, that if you throw yourself into the water they will attack you in a matter of seconds, like in the movies. This doesn't happen. In fact, the first reaction when a person falls nearby is usually to move away. Then they may return out of curiosity, to see what happened. Even, in many of the documented attacks around the world, starring species like the great white shark, tiger, and bull shark, the victim does not end up devoured. Normally, a bite occurs that can cause very serious injuries or a fatal hemorrhage, but not this pursuit by a killer machine that we see in the cinema.

So, when these attacks occur, they don't always seek to feed?

— No. Sharks use two types of bites. One is for feeding: they attack to catch prey. A great white shark, for example, usually does so from below to surprise it and prevent it from escaping. The other has to do with exploration. Sharks don't have hands. Just as a baby or a puppy puts things in its mouth to discover what they are, they use it to understand what is in front of them. That's why some attacks seem to be a response simply to this curiosity. They detect something strange in the water, approach it, bite it to find out what it is, and leave. Depending on the size of the animal and the species, this bite can cause very serious injuries. Sharks eat fish, mollusks, other sharks... it depends on the species. Some are opportunistic and feed on what they find, especially in the open sea, where food can be scarce.

When we think of sharks, we usually imagine Australia and South Africa, but they are also part of the Mediterranean.

— Yes, many people are surprised when they discover it. Many different species of very diverse sizes live in Balearic waters. We have small sharks, like the catshark and the dogfish, which are barely a meter long. And also much larger species, like the basking shark, which can reach six meters, although it's more normal for them to be between three and four. And the blue shark, which can also exceed two and a half meters. Both are the ones we find most in the open sea. They live far from people and most people never get to see them, although it's not unusual for fishermen. In the Mediterranean alone, we find about fifty species of sharks. Many populations are declining globally, but they continue to be part of our marine ecosystem and need protection.

Why do dead shark specimens appear on the coasts?

— The carcasses float and the currents drag them to the seashore, as happened with those we found between Illetes and Cala Nova. Both had their spinal cords severed. It is most likely that they were accidentally trapped in some fishing gear, be it a longline, a trawl net, or shrimp fishing. We are talking about animals of almost four meters and about 260 kilos. Handling a shark of this size, alive and stressed, is not at all simple. In the case of fishermen, they can endanger the crew, break the nets, and spoil the catch. Sometimes some opt to immobilize the animal to manage the situation and then the carcass ends up back in the sea.

Could it be done differently?

— Yes, but it is a much more complex problem than it seems. It is easy to point fingers at fishermen, but reality has many more nuances. Specific training, clear protocols, and tools that allow these animals to be released safely are needed. It is not the same to return a small shark to the sea as one that is almost four meters long and weighs several hundred kilograms. Furthermore, it is not a problem that fishermen alone can solve. Collaboration is needed between scientists, administrations, fishermen, and other sea users to find safe solutions for everyone. In Spain, work is being done on safe release protocols, but there is still a long way to go. The vast majority of fishermen do not act this way. If they all did, these populations would have already disappeared. What happens is that, sometimes, an accidental catch ends with a result like this.

Has any shark attack been documented in the Balearic Islands?

— As far as I know, no. It is true that practically every summer some bather or lifeguard reports having seen a blue shark near the beach. In case of doubt, the protocol is activated and, if necessary, the bathing area is temporarily closed. They are open-sea animals and, if they reach the beach, it is because they are injured, sick, or disoriented. This does not mean they have gone there to attack people. However, they are still wild animals. A 200-kilogram specimen can cause a lot of harm simply with a flick of its tail if it is scared or trying to escape. That is why it is best to give them space.

And what should we do if we find one?

— If we are talking about a shark in the open sea, the first thing to do is try to stay calm. It's easier said than done, but they have organs called ampullae of Lorenzini with which they detect very faint electrical signals, even those produced by the heartbeat. The more nervous we are, the more this activity attracts their attention. It is advisable to avoid sudden movements, not to splash, and to let the animal go its own way. We are in its home, not the other way around. And, of course, there is no need to chase it or try to touch it. That's best left to Hollywood heroes. If the shark appears stranded or very close to the beach, the situation changes. It's better to stay away from it, not to touch or push it, and to call 112 to activate the stranding network protocol. Every report is valued, and if the animal is dead, it is recovered for study. If it is alive, it is stabilized and returned to the sea whenever possible. If there is no possibility of recovery, veterinarians consider euthanasia to prevent unnecessary suffering.

What are the main threats they suffer?

— Since 2022, we have recorded about twenty strandings of bull sharks in the Balearic Islands and, in approximately a quarter of these cases, we have been able to document some type of interaction with fishing: amputated tails or ropes tied to the mouth. These are clear indications of interaction with human activity, but the figures are too small to establish any trend. Threats of human origin are, by far, the most significant. Sharks are the apex predators of the marine ecosystem and, naturally, they have almost no enemies. The big problem is us. Fishing, especially accidental catches, is still one of the main threats. There are also collisions with boats, ghost nets—fishing gear lost or abandoned that continue to trap animals for years—and practices such as shark finning, the capture of sharks to cut off their fins and make soup. Climate change also affects them, although often indirectly. If the sea conditions change, so do the species they feed on, and the sharks move with them. Everything in the sea is connected.

Why are sharks so important for the balance of the sea?

— Because they are a key part of the ecosystem. If they disappear, the entire food web suffers. Furthermore, they are natural regulators. Many people imagine sharks constantly chasing the strongest prey, but in reality, they usually do the opposite. They are quite lazy. If they can choose between chasing a healthy fish or catching a sick, weakened, or old one, they usually opt for the second option, as it requires much less energy expenditure. In the end, they help eliminate sick individuals and contribute to maintaining healthier populations. They are very efficient animals. An adult great white shark can go quite a long time without eating and travel enormous distances in the ocean. It doesn't waste energy for no reason. I always say one thing: if I go a day without eating, I'm probably much more dangerous than a shark.

The data confirms they are not 'killing machines'?

— Every year, around 10 people worldwide die from shark attacks. We, on the other hand, kill about 100 million. Hippos kill 2,500 people annually. They are tremendous. And a mosquito is much more dangerous than a shark to a person. It transmits diseases that cause hundreds of thousands of deaths each year. When you compare these figures, you understand how distorted our image of sharks is. We still associate them with Jaws. Even at the aquarium, it often happens: people arrive at the tank and start humming the movie's music. This stereotype is still very present and a lot of awareness is needed to change it.