Controversy of Conservation

Deep Blue. Possibly the largest Great White shark to ever be caught on tape in the wild, at 21 feet long. She first became viral back in 2013, when a group of cage divers in Guadalupe recorded her swimming past their cage. Not only was this a once in a lifetime experience for those who were in the water, but was also  For the next several years, Deep Blue flew (or in this case swam) low under the radar, until recently, when she made a surprise appearance in the waters off the island of Oahu. Video footage showed Ocean Ramsey, a shark conservation advocate, free diving in the deep blue waters while swimming alongside this 7-meter shark. As a strong conservationist, it has always been Ramsey's goal to inspire people to look deeper into the eyes of these apex predators, and find how they're majestic creatures that can tolerate the presence of humans. This however, is probably the reason for the recent backlash.

Many people have responded negatively to this issue, claiming that Ramsey's showing of fearlessness toward these apex predators is somewhat irresponsible, in that it may give people the wrongful mindset that it is okay to swim with these animals. This is another prime example of people not getting the message that someone is trying to convey. Personally, I don't feel as though Ramsey had the intention of making Great Whites look like harmless creatures that can be treated as pets in the ocean. What she's trying to say is that they are not always the aggressive animals that we would typically associate them with. However, this is only when they're in the right mood, and do not feel the desire for hunting. Experts say that Ramsey was lucky in this case, as this was probably the safest situation she could have been in with a white shark, most likely because it had just been feeding at the time. The problem with touching sharks is more than just the risk of being bitten. It can easily disturb the animal, causing a disruption in the way nature functions. That's one of the main things that people have yet to come to an understanding. If we leave nature alone and allow them to function properly, humans can function properly as well.

As far as my standpoint on this issue, I agree with both sides to a certain extent. I agree with the message that Ramsey is trying to convey, as far as sharks having a more positive side to them than people typically envision. However, I feel like there could have been better ways in which she approached this. People often get inspired by videos they see on the internet or on social media, and feel the urge to try it out for themselves. This is where people having common sense could play a factor into Ramsey getting controversy for her video. Chances are, someone who watches the video will try to go free diving with these predators in hopes of living the same sort of experience. But they need to understand something before they make these decisions. While it is true that 99 percent of all shark species are not dangerous to humans, that doesn't make it ok for you to interfere with their lives. And Great Whites pose a great level of danger. This specific species is perhaps the most misunderstood animal on the whole planet. Depending on the mood they're in, they could be either very aggressive, or very timid. Sometimes they can show express their mood by the way they swim. When in a timid mood, they tend to swim slower, with their backs arched an angle. When they start swimming faster, with their backs straighter, that's a warning sign that you should leave their territory. The bottom line is, if you're going to interact with these animals in their natural environment, it is essential that you take these precautions into consideration before entering the water. As long as we give nature the respect they deserve, they will leave us alone, and we can both get along well.