Two weeks ago, a charter captain out of Stuart filmed a great white shark—estimated at more than 15 feet—cruising just off our coast. The video went viral, but for those of us who live here, it points to something bigger—our waters are alive and thriving. That’s something worth celebrating this Shark Week!

First, sharks are not the enemy; they keep our fish populations healthy, our reefs balanced, and our ecosystems resilient. When Contender—the largest male great white ever tagged by OCEARCH at 1,653 pounds—pinged off Sebastian and Vero Beach this January, it reflected a population rebounding after years of decline. Scientists here in Florida are tracking these migrations, studying shark health, and rescuing the injured. 

But a healthy ocean still demands our respect. As parents, we know bites are rare—and almost all of them are avoidable: 

• Swim near lifeguards, in groups, and close to shore.

• Skip dawn and dusk; these are peak feeding times.

• Leave the shiny jewelry at home; it can look like fish scales underwater.

• Stay out of the water with an open cut; sharks have an extremely strong sense of smell.

• Steer clear of fishing piers, bait schools, and murky water.

A little awareness keeps our families safe and lets these incredible animals exist peacefully.

Check out current beach conditions at weather.gov/beach/florida before you go.