Jersey Shore Magazine

J e r s e y s h o r e • S p r i n g 2 0 1 6 10 10 Michaelson dedicates herself to educating others about shark truths versus what might be assumed from media hype and false reports. The Bricktown resident and Point Pleasant native grew up swimming in the Atlantic Ocean with no fear of sharks, and only when her family relocated to south Florida did she realize just how magnificent sharks are. "My stepfather was an avid diver and had experience in han- dling sharks. I was about ten when he taught me for the first time how to catch and handle small sharks by hand," Michaelson said. She spent so much time handling nurse sharks and touching other marine life that oftentimes she would have to sub- merse her hands in water to relieve the itching and burning. However, her curiosity for sharks and other marine life only increased with each and every encounter, and her inter- est was worth more to her than the physical irritation she experienced. "I would often see sharks while snorkeling," she explained, "and a majority of the time they would dis- appear as soon as they were aware of my presence. It was nothing like what I see on Shark Week today." Her most memorable moment was an encounter with two hammerheads that slowly swam by her and her brother as they were catching spiny lobsters in grass beds. "To see those majestic animals in their natural setting with all their grace and agility was beyond moving to the soul," she said. Fast forward twenty years, long after Michaelson relocated back to New Jersey, when her interest in sharks peaked again. She began to educate herself about sharks by reading research papers and through social media. "I realized there was this whole world on social media dedicated to advocating for and researching sharks," she said. "I learned about the perils sharks face, along with so many other marine species." The more Michaelson learned, the more vested she became in the idea of advocating for sharks and educat- ing the public about shark awareness. "Sharks carry an unwarranted stigma and misconception of fear created by the media and by motion pictures," she explained. "The fact is, you are more likely to get into an accident on your way to the shore than hav- ing a negative shark encounter." A Voice For The Sharks BEACHCOMBER " L et u s ta k e a j o u r ne y do w n t he S hore to see w h at w e can f i n d …" M elissa Michaelson knows a thing or two about sharks. And she's got a passion for shark advocacy. Sharks are a hot media topic, fueled in part by the success of the Discovery Channel's yearly Shark Week series. It comes as no surprise that when a shark swims close to shore during the summer, social media spreads the word in seconds. Consequently, many people are lead to believe rumors and untruths about sharks, resulting in a fear of creatures that, in reality, pose little threat to humans. Jill Ocone Melissa Michaelson dedicates herself to educating others about shark truths versus what might be assumed from media hype and false reports.

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