Their numbers have decreased dramatically, and if things don't look up pretty soon, their species might become unsustainable. Apparently, people, out of fear went out to hunt this 'demon of the sea,' and in so doing, reduced their numbers. "One person alone can do nothing...it will have to be something where the world gets together and realizes that the oceans are not infinite, and that we can't keep fishing the way we fish. The only way that the oceans are going to survive is by our showing some measure of restraint in the way we fish and the amount we fish," Mr. Benchley said. By writing articles, like the one that appeared in the April issue of The National Geographic, creating films, and speaking to as many people as he can about the Great White, he hopes that he can make a difference in their survival.
Peter Benchley became interested in sharks as a youngster who spent summers in Nantucket. "Most children have a fascination with either sharks or dinosaurs," he said, "because they represent the unknown, some sort of menace." Yet, understanding now that sharks are not on a mission to eat humans, and that they have a significant importance to children and, more especially, the world, Mr. Benchley believes it's crucial to dispel the myths many people have created about these creatures, and to turn the focus on what we all can do to help prevent the numbers of the Great White from declining further.
