Despite summer slipping away, there's still time to make a splash by embracing all that Shark and Ray Awareness Month has to offer.
July is Shark and Ray Awareness Month, celebrating underwater ecosystems and their animals. With more than one-third of shark and ray species threatened with extinction, the month brings awareness to the issues our fishy friends face.
Overfishing, unintentional captures, and demand for fins and meat have impacted the population — the desire for shark fin soup playing a sizeable role in the decline.
The stealthy animals have struggled to recover, as they grow slowly and produce few offspring. This has led to a quarter of coastal sharks and rays being at risk and the oceanic shark populations plummeting by 71% over the last 50 years.
The conservation status of different shark species varies, with sand tigers, oceanic whitetips and scalloped hammerheads marked as critically endangered. Whale sharks, known as the largest fish in the sea, are endangered and great whites are vulnerable.
There are many ways to celebrate the month's animals, from visiting aquariums, immersing yourself in documentaries or classics like "Jaws", and partaking in at-home crafts.
Aquariums
The OdySea Aquarium in Scottsdale is celebrating its 10th anniversary throughout the summer. For its anniversary, the aquarium features new exhibits, giveaways and access to a behind-the-scenes tour until July 24.
The OdySea Voyager lets guests experience turtles, sea lions and sharks through a rotating aquarium. There's also an ocean-themed theater where guests can watch a film related to the sea or take in the scenes around them.
SEA LIFE at Arizona Mills in Tempe offers a 360-degree tunnel where guests can observe 500 creatures from any point of view. The 180,000-gallon exhibit includes sea turtles, sharks and stingrays, mimicking the environment of a tropical ocean.
Bay of Rays is a "stingray sandy beach," where stingrays meander, and eels and fish can be spotted in the tank's crevasses.
National Geographic's SHARKFEST
SHARKFEST returned for its 14th summer, aiming to inform and awe viewers while educating them on the behavior and conservation of the ocean's "misunderstood predators."
In this year's special film, "Hammerhead sharks up close with Bertie Gregory," an Emmy-winning cinematographer dives into Mexico's Pacific waters to highlight an iconic shark. The film is available on Disney+ and Hulu.
In addition to this Hammerhead special, National Geographic's website features articles and podcasts all about sharks.
Discovery Channel
Discovery's Shark Week will begin July 26 and offer 20 different programs throughout the week.
The week's programs highlight a wide range of sharks: great whites, bull sharks, thresher sharks, and Jurassic sharks.
On Discovery's website, shark photos, facts and podcasts are available for those interested in learning more.
Crafts
The Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri, offers free craft guides and coloring pages on its website for those interested in a more artistic way to familiarize themselves with this month’s honored animals.
The aquarium provides online templates that teach how to draw a hammerhead shark, create your own shark, make a mermaid purse, and fill out baby shark coloring sheets — perfect for Sun Devils who have a younger sibling, babysit, or are looking for something simple to do this summer.
Edited by Dhemi Bell, Natalia Jarrett and Claire Bixby
Reach the reporter at cjoneil6@asu.edu and follow @cjojournalism on X.
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Char O’Neil is a junior studying sports journalism with a minor in special events management. This is her third semester with The State Press. She has also reported for AZPreps365, Blaze Radio and Phoenix College Basketball.
