The great white shark is well known even to those who do not know about marine biology.
Thanks to this species, several tour operators were able to show Jaws and Shark Week viewers these creatures in their natural habitat.
But the only way to get up close and personal with a great white shark is in shark cages and on boats. We will never see them in aquariums, no matter how much people love or hate them.
Great white sharks in captivity
It is well known that great white sharks are ferocious, relentless killing machines. B-movies would have you believe that this shark would burst through its tank and devour everyone if kept in an aquarium.
However, the shark was the only one that had perished in earlier attempts to catch a great white – and too quickly. In fact, in 2021, a great white shark was removed from the ocean and placed in the Okinawa Churami Aquarium in Japan. It was only alive for three days.
For this reason, great white sharks should never be kept in aquariums.
The great white shark is well known even to those who do not know about marine biology. Thanks to this species, several boat tour operators were able to show Jaws and Shark Week viewers these creatures in their natural habitat. But the only way to get up close and personal with a great white shark is in shark cages and on boats. We will never see them in aquariums, no matter how much people love or hate them.
Great white sharks in captivity
It is well known that great white sharks are ferocious, relentless killing machines. B-movies would have you believe that this shark would break through its tank and eat everyone if kept in an aquarium. However, the shark was the only one that had perished in earlier attempts to catch a great white – and too quickly.
In fact, in 2021, a great white shark was removed from the ocean and placed in the Okinawa Churami Aquarium in Japan. It was only alive for three days.
The first known attempt to exhibit a great white shark was made in the 1950s at California’s Marineland of the Pacific. But the shark didn’t live more than one day. SeaWorld attempted similar projects throughout the 1970s, 1980s, aand1990s, but none were successful. Within a few weeks, the shark either died or returned to its natural habitat.
Reasons why aquariums can’t have perfect whites
These sharks are unable to survive in captivity for various reasons. Their diet is one factor. As apex predators, great white sharks primarily consume live prey.
But aquarists usually don’t want to feed live animals to their specimens. To begin with, it is expensive and causes inconvenience to visitors. However, many captive whites refused the food offered.
Breathing is a continuous process for great white sharks. They are supplied with oxygen by the water that flows through their gills when they swim.
Moreover, the length of these predators can reach up to 20 feet (6 meters). Great white sharks can travel long distances in the wild and are comfortable in open waters. This means that the tank has to be incredibly large to hold them properly. In addition to being very expensive to maintain, it would be boring for guests waiting in front of the massive tank to see the fish.
Reasons why they can’t live in dances
To this day, it is not known why the caught sharks died so quickly. According to one idea, sharks’ strong sense of electroreception – which allows them to detect even minute changes in their surroundings – has been disrupted by the artificial environment.
The large glass tank with all the accessories may have excited and confused them too much.
In addition, several sharks had health problems and injuries during transport and removal from the water before entering the tank.
Many would also repeatedly swim into the glass and further injure themselves.
The most powerful large white exhibit
The Monterey Bay Aquarium set a record in 2004 when it kept a great white shark alive and thriving for six months, beating the previous mark of just sixteen days. That was the only exception.
The aquarium used a 35-meter-deep tank that could hold over four million liters of water. However, instead of the typical full size of fifteen feet (4.5 meters), they must have contained very few great whites measuring just over four feet (1.2 meters).
In addition to having more room to swim than an adult great white, this juvenile also required less food — fish — than mammals, making it easier for researchers to care for them. However, after killing several other sharks in the tank, the predator was released back into the wild.
Is there a demand?
Despite their notoriety and fascination, great white sharks face insurmountable challenges in captivity.
Their natural behavior and needs make them unsuitable for aquarium life, leading to a dismal history of unsuccessful attempts to keep them in tanks. The stark reality is that these magnificent creatures are supposed to roam the open ocean and not be confined to an artificial environment where they cannot thrive.
The struggles aquaria face in housing great whites highlight a wider issue regarding our understanding of marine life. While the allure of seeing great whites up close is strong, it is important to prioritize the welfare of these animals over our desire for entertainment. The short-term successes of institutions like the Monterey Bay Aquarium serve as a reminder of the complexity of marine ecosystems and the specific needs of top predators.
As we move forward, it is essential to appreciate these sharks in their natural habitat, whether through responsible shark tours or education programs that support conservation. By focusing on protecting their habitat and understanding their role in the ocean, we can foster a deeper respect for great whites and all marine life. Their survival ultimately depends on our commitment to protecting the oceans they call home and ensuring that future generations can admire their majesty in the wild where they truly belong.