asanattack isoftenmisidentificationof
foodon thepartofashark, especially if the
water ismurky,which itoften is, asmore
people thaneverareentering theocean.
Cristina isabitofa legend.Amember
of theWomenDiversHallofFame, she
wasborn inItalybutgrewup in the
Congo,whereshedesperatelywanteda
petshark, learningearlyon that there’s
nosuch thingasa“badanimal.”Theyall
havearole in the foodchain, shesays.
Althoughsharksareapexpredators, their
populationsaredwindlingasaresultof
bycatch infisheries targetingotherspecies
andanexpandingmarket forsharkfins.
Killingsharks impacts thecircleof life,
causinggraveconsequences forreefsand
theentiremarineecosystem, explains
legendarydiverBenRose,whowasone
ofseveralpeoplewhopioneered“shark
feeding”atUNEXSO in theBahamas in
the1980s.Coincidentally,Ben taught the
authorof
Jaws
, the latePeterBenchley,
todivebeforehewrote thebook that
would foreverdemonizesharks inpopular
culture.
Itwas fromBen thatCristina learned
how toputsharks intoagentleand
tranquil statebyrubbing theampullaeof
Lorenzini, thenamegiven tohundreds
of jelly-filledporesaround theanimal’s
noseandmouth.Thisbringsonanatural
paralysis,whichcan last forup to15
minutes.Once theshark is in thisnatural
stateofparalysis,Cristinaworks to
removeparasitesandfishinghookscaught
AMERICANWAY
NOVEMBER2015
75
IFEELPEACE
ANDANABIDING
CONNECTIONTO
THISANCIENT
CREATURE,WHOSE
ANCESTORSHAVE
BEENAROUND
SINCETHEDAYS
OFDINOSAURS.
TOPANDBOTTOM
:
someof themanyhooks retrieved
from sharks’mouths;Cristinacalminga shark in
order to takecareof it
PHOTOS
CRI ST INA ZENATO L I BRARY; UNEXSO L I BRARY
