Shark Week Myth Or Fact? Great White Sharks Are Camera Hungry And More Common Beliefs Debunked

It’s Shark Week, and we here at the Atlantic Great White Shark Conservation Center For Studies And Such are debunking some common myths and highlighting truths about great white sharks—the most fearsome sharks in the entire ocean and universe. 

Great white sharks get a lot of chatter about them, mostly that they’re man-hungry monsters, and that’s why we’re debunking some of the most common beliefs this week to make sure that if gossip like this is circulating, at least get the facts straight!

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MYTH: Many great white sharks live off Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts because they have a higher chance of being cast in a blockbuster film.

MYTH OR FACT? FACT.

Great white sharks swarm the waters off Massachusetts in hopes of getting into the next JAWS installment or at least being mistaken for one of the sharks in the film. Experts say hundreds are spotted daily in all sizes, hoping for their next shot at fame. A few have signed talent contracts, but many remain hopeful aspirants swimming the currents of Nantucket Sound.

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MYTH: Gummy shark candies are based on the great white shark.

MYTH OR FACT? MYTH.

Gummy sharks are based on the basic sea shark, a no-doubt heartbreaking fact for great white shark fans everywhere. Gummy sharks raise awareness of sharks that are blue with white bottoms and call attention to the many sharks that inhabit the oceans today. Next time you eat a gummy shark, thank the sharks that are blue for inspiring this tasty creation.

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MYTH: Great white sharks can reach lengths of 2,000 feet.

MYTH OR FACT? FACT.

Great white sharks are one of the largest sharks and can be as big as cruise ships. They’re often mistaken for submarines around the world on radar, which is what makes them so intimidating and can often be seen from space.

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MYTH: The great white shark could beat a submarine in a fight.

MYTH OR FACT? MYTH.

Although great white sharks can grow bigger than submarines, they won’t win in a fight. The sharks are too easy to distract, with things like inflatable tubes and scuba divers, which gives submarines a clear edge.

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MYTH: Great white sharks’ favorite food is the license plate.

MYTH OR FACT? FACT.

Great white sharks are at the top of the food chain, but their favorite delicacy is the license plate, with many frequently found inside the sharks when they are caught and studied. Experts believe license plates taste similar to potato chips for great whites. Given the chance, great white sharks would strictly eat a diet of license plates.

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MYTH: Great white sharks always swim to a gloomy theme song.

MYTH OR FACT? MYTH.

Popularized by Hollywood movies, great white sharks don’t, in fact, swim the waters to eerie-sounding theme songs to retain their alpha status in the ocean. They enjoy yacht rock and Hootie and The Blowfish. Most commonly, they swim the ocean to mellow acoustic music you’d hear at a beach bar. Experts suggest great whites developed their taste in music over the course of millennia.

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MYTH: Great white sharks have been around since the dinosaurs and are 10 billion years old.

MYTH OR FACT? FACT.

Great white sharks are the oldest creatures in the universe, with records dating back 10 billion years. Experts claim great white sharks were around before Earth was even invented. Before that, they swam around in space, circling the sun. Every great white is still alive from this era, making them 10 billion years old and completely immortal swimming fossils.

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Now, you know which common great white shark myths are fact or fiction! Continue following along for more Shark Week updates, where we will have live interviews with great white sharks and more this week!