Blame Jaws.

Humans have an irrational fear of sharks as man-eaters. Blood-thirsty stalkers, to be exact. But that reputation is unfair and threatening the species, a new study says. 

The Washington Post reports: 

There’s no basis for believing that sharks have a taste for human flesh, the study argues. Human swimmers, often dressed in black wet suits and looking like seals, are mistaken for sharks’ usual prey.

Uninformed characterizations of shark bites by early scientists date back to the 1700s, according to the study, and media, public officials and others are parroting them. Some sightings are misrepresented as bites, the study says.

… In reality, there are on average about 100 shark encounters in the world annually, and fewer than 10 are fatal, said Robert Hueter, director of the Center for Shark Research at the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Fla., and a co-author of the study.

The authors say sensational TV programming like the Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week” don’t help, either.

Hawaii’s had its share of shark sightings lately, and several shark bites on Kauai and Maui in the fall. But sharks bite and let go, suggesting that perhaps we’re not so tasty after all?

Photo via James Mostert.