Photo: Byron’s Madison Stewart
This article was originally printed in the AnimalSpirit September newsletter and is reprinted here with permission.
AnimalSpirit is an organisation run by Anna Breytenbach, a South African woman who unexpectedly shot to fame when an online documentary about her skill as an animal communicator went viral. This article is based on a communication with the great white sharks off the South African coast and some parts may have no relevance to the shark situation in Australia. However considering the number of incidents with sharks off the coast of Northern NSW in the last year, as well as the much publicised Mick Fanning incident, it makes for interesting reading.
Why Catching a Wave is not a Good Idea
Great white sharks do not want to eat us, nor do they mistake us for seals or other of their usual meals. They are very aware of humans being different to other species, as we humans give off a certain range of characteristic frequency emissions by virtue of our intrinsic biological make-up and the electromagnetic frequencies we emit (from our hearts and brains, for example.)
So-called attacks aren’t “attacks” in their view – meaning that the motivation is not “attack”, neither from an aggressive nor a defensive position. Instead, what drives shark behaviour is curiosity. They approach people in the water for this reason. Some factors make them more likely to approach – but they do so pretty obviously, not hiding their “reconnaissance” or eventual circling if it even comes to that. The problem usually begins when the human notices the shark for the first time and then reacts in a huge way.
Let’s examine the trajectory of a close encounter of the shark kind. Sharks test objects by mouthing them; they are very tactile animals and do this countless times per day with all manner of objects, animate and inanimate. The underside of surfboards, kayaks, wave-skis, etc. with limbs protruding from them activate in the shark brain a “search image match”. Both the shape outline and movement (skegs, fins and paddles slicing through water) resemble their natural prey – even though the sharks’ other senses are telling them otherwise. As their eyesight isn’t very good though, the rough resemblance is enough to warrant closer investigation on their part. So they approach. So far so good.
It’s what happens next that can result in human injuries sometimes. Statistically infinitesimally few times, by the way. Almost all the time, the “big fish” story ends there – with an amazing sighting up close and perhaps a passing glance from the shark who continues on his or her more important business.
When following pure curiosity and encountering a fear response from the human, a shark’s predatory instincts are highly activated, making it more likely that they follow through with a tactile investigation. This fear response from the human makes us behave like prey. Our behaviour needn’t even be thrashing or splashing; just the surge of emotion and thoughts associated with fear have intense wave qualities that are universally understood across species. As we emit panic or fright or other forms of feebleness, we’re as good as broadcasting our status as “prey”. Suddenly we’re of more interest to the shark. If a “test bite” then happens, the shark quickly realises we aren’t food, and doesn’t come back for more. Notice how so-called “attacks’ don’t involve the sharks wilfully finishing off the surfer/swimmer/diver. Typically it’s a case of one bite and then they’re gone. The fact that one bite may be fatal to the human body is nothing to do with them, and certainly doesn’t imply that they intended to kill. It’s only us humans who add that meaning to the scenario and project qualities of aggression and meanness onto sharks. A reputation they don’t deserve.
There are a few factors that are leading to an increase in encounters with sharks close to shore. Changing sea temperatures are causing huge spikes and falls in populations and disrupting their movement patterns. There’s an unusually high number and density of mature male sharks in South African waters at present. The tourism activity of shark cage-diving (which involves luring white sharks close with bait) is making sharks become more familiar with humans in general and therefore lose their natural avoidance of us. They still don’t exhibit any aggression towards us for this practice – but we’ve “trained” them to become comfortable with being up close to people in the water.
Environmentally destructive fishing practices are literally wiping out marine food sources, particularly medium to large sized fish. This scarcity of nourishment is altering behaviour within groups of sharks. Again, not because humans are regarded as alternate food! However, competition between sharks in the same area is magnified. The constant daily activity of food predation has taken on a competitive angle. This is where the interspecies dynamic becomes interesting…
Local Great White sharks are apex predators who are competing with each other in the hunt for food. Kayakers, wave-skiers, surfers, body-boarders, spear fishermen and other such sportspeople are also in the water… also hunting! And to some degree also competing with each other. Amidst the fun of riding the waves, there’s often an element of vying for the best spot, performing better than the other people in the water or achieving some kind of peak experience. Whether hunting the perfect wave or ride, we’re essentially emitting predatory signals into the surroundings. Other predators notice this energetic reality on a quantum level – and come closer to check out this other predator… in this case, a human. Especially as our athletic antics in the water are messing up their hunting. Essentially, if we’re trying to “catch a wave”, we’re in “hunter” mode. Which puts us in direct competition with any other hunters nearby.
So what can we humans do? Aside from respectfully leaving the water for a while if the sharks want the space? When in the water, we need to adjust our state of being. A human exuding quiet confidence and peacefulness will not engage a shark’s predatory investigation. Remaining calm when seeing a shark can be difficult because of our unfortunate cultural and media-induced programming, however. Preparing ourselves energetically before entering the water will help. Focus on calming yourself and staying present with your natural breathing rhythm. Create some helpful visualisations that work for you. It’s important to stay out of unhelpful feelings – as nervousness and anxiety attract sharks. To stay out of Fear and Resistance for example, focus on the opposite states of being: Love and Acceptance. Even just by silently saying these words to yourself will invoke your body’s electrical signals to be in accordance with those more peaceful moods. Another very effective practical tool is to visualise a cocoon of calmness around you like an energetic shield. Simply imagine that there’s always this space between you and anything you don’t want close; picture it being like a space-suit you’re wearing that extends a few metres beyond your body, all around and above and below. Adjusting your relationship to the experience you’re seeking in the water is also important. Instead of hunting or catching the wave, be in the flow – literally and figuratively.
The bottom line is that sharks mean humans no harm whatsoever. They deserve humans reciprocating with respect and allowing them to be themselves in what is after all their natural home.
~ Anna Breytenbach
Anna Breytenbach will be visiting Byron Bay in October 2015 and is running two animal communication workshops, both of which are sold out.
Photos from www.madisonstewart.com.au
