AS THE ICONIC THRILLER THAT SCARED SWIMMERS OFF THE BEACHES TURNS 50, GREATER CLEVELAND AQUARIUM’S FIN FEST DIVES INTO SHARK (& STINGRAY!) APPRECIATION
CLEVELAND, OH – In the past year alone, researchers discovered a new hammerhead shark species, released the first-ever recording of a rig shark’s clicking sound, determined there are three genetically different types of Great Whites, confirmed the important role stingrays play in moving key nutrients around seabed ecosystems and began to explore the secrets behind Greenland sharks’ extremely long lives. While scientists clearly still have a great deal to learn about and from sharks and stingrays, Greater Cleveland Aquarium is putting the spotlight on what we do know about these elasmobranchs during Fin Fest, Tuesday, July 8 – Tuesday, August 5, 10am – 5pm. The monthlong celebration of sharks and rays is included with general Aquarium admission ($19.95 ages 13+, $13.95 ages 2-12, FREE for members and children younger than 2) and features a free four-page activity book, underwater sharks & scuba Q&As (daily, 1:30pm), public stingray feeds (first-come, first-served, daily, 3:30pm), aquarist shark feeds (Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, 2:30pm), aquarist broadcast shark habitat feeds (Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays, 3:45pm), shark- and stingray-themed discovery cart activities (daily, 10:45am & 4:15pm), videos, trivia, Finn the friendly landshark appearances (Friday & Saturday afternoons), as well as games and experiments with a rotating array of community partners including Cleveland Water, Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Drink Local. Drink Tap., Great Lakes Science Center and Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (Tuesdays & Thursdays, 11am – 2pm).
Also, Fin Fest-goers dressed in shark gear (shirts, shorts, socks, ties, hats or even complete costumes) will be entered for a chance to win a shark-and-ray-themed $125 Gift Shop prize pack.
“The myth of the monstrous shark is still alive decades after “Jaws” first made us afraid to go in the water, but these incredible animals are far more deserving of our respect than our dread,” explains Education Coordinator Matt Debelak. “According to the International Shark Attack File, human/shark interactions resulted in 47 unprovoked bites and 4 fatalities worldwide last years,” says Debelak, adding, “Statistically, ascaris roundworms, freshwater snails and mosquitos are bigger threats and more deadly to humans than sharks.”
From habitat engineering to supporting biodiversity, sharks—and their ray relatives—play important roles in keeping marine ecosystems in balance, but they’re disappearing at an alarming rate. According to a recent study, the combined threats of overfishing, bycatch, habitat loss and climate change have led to a drastic 50% reduction in shark and ray numbers since 1970. Greater Cleveland Aquarium’s 230,000-gallon shark habitat and 175-foot seatube offer up-close views of sharks and rays, immersive experiences that Debelak believes foster a healthy respect for these creatures. “Sharing facts is important, but seeing these animals firsthand—looking up into a sandtiger shark’s toothy grin or watching stingrays glide gently by a diver— connects you to their world in a way words and pictures cannot.”
During Fin Fest, the Aquarium also shares shark trivia, videos and crafts via e-newsletters and social channels and asks “fin-atics” to test their ability to tell fact from fiction with a 5-question online Reel vs Real World Shark Quiz. A live, interactive Wake Up With Sharks online program enables shark fans to observe adaptations and ask questions from the comfort of their home anywhere in the world (Tuesday, July 22, 9am, $0-10). And while Stingray Art Mornings allow guests to help cownose rays paint an original piece of art (Tuesday, July 15 and Sunday, August 3, 8:30 – 10am, $10 – 40), Bottoms Up! Yoga (& Sharks) sessions in front of the Aquarium’s shark habitat give them a chance to stretch, strengthen and find their Zen while finned friends glide by (Thursdays, July 10 & 24, 8:30 – 9:30am, $5 – 25).
A complete schedule and a Fin Fest YouTube playlist with crafts and behind-the-scenes videos are available online at greaterclevelandaquarium.com/event/fin-fest.