Sharks at Nausicaa

Since time immemorial sharks have suffered from a reputation as bloodthirsty hunters and man-eaters! But the reality is very different: of the 350 known shark species in the oceans, very few in reality pose a danger to man, towards whom they are often timorous and wary!

Sharks are efficient predators.

They play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of species’ populations at the top of marine food chains.
Man is the shark’s main predator.

It has been estimated that 100 million sharks are killed every year, mainly for the culinary value of their fins. But their birth rate is low. And their disappearance would lead to a true ecological disaster and irreversible damage to the balance of the ocean’s ecosystem.

Nausicaa, National Sea Centre in BOULOGNE-SUR-MER offers its visitors a special programme. Special documentaries are broadcast via the TV platform with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of sharks in the Ocean, and so foster respect for them.

At Nausicaa, you can see a wide range of shark species

• in the Open Sea Pool: sand tiger sharks, nurse sharks, grey reef shark
• in the California Pool: leopard shark, smooth dogfish, horn shark
• in the Touch Pool: nursehounds and small-spotted catsharks
• 
  Documentaries and special reports via the TV Platform “Live from the Sea”

The shark carer broadcasts live from behind the scenes at Nausicaa.

The carer explains to Nausicaa’s visitors the different aspects of their job (such as diving with the sharks), the characteristics of sharks and their fragility and therefore the importance of a policy to conserve sharks.

Surgery on a grey reef shark

Nausicaa has produced a special documentary to tell the story of how its shark carers noticed an unusual bulge protruding from the belly of one of its oldest guests, a shark of about 20 years of age and measuring 2m in length. And how, following this discovery, and with the help of a veterinary specialised in sharks, the animal was anaesthetised and then operated, paying particular attention to not damaging the shark, and not being bitten... 

3 questions to Frédéric BUYLE

Frédéric BUYLE is a freediving world record holder. He no longer dives for trophies or podiums. Instead, he has become an excellent underwater photographer. He is also one of the few freedivers to have dived with a great white shark... Here’s his unique story, in his own words. 

« Clichés de requin » by Jérôme ESPLA – 7 minutes

This short film introduces Frédéric BUYLE, former dynamic free-diving world record holder turned underwater photographer. Frédéric BUYLE takes all his photos while free-diving. He is inspired by the beauty of the ocean’s wildlife. In this documentary, shot by Jérôme ESPLA, this photographer of the extreme dives off South Africa, among tiger sharks, in ALIWAL SHOAL, not far from DURBAN.

Special video report: Under the leadership of the association MEGAPTERA, scientists are year by year working to improve our understanding of the whale shark, a fish quite out of the ordinary.

Satellite tracking, photo identification, tagging, DNA sampling: all the latest technology is put to use to at last unravel the secrets of the whale shark, because better understanding it enables us to better protect both it and its environment... 

3 questions to ROB STEWART

Rob STEWART produced the film “Les Seigneurs de la Mer” (The Lords of the Sea), a documentary which seeks to challenge existing misconceptions about sharks.

Rob STEWART has practiced diving since he was very young and won his first award at the age of 13 for his underwater photography. At the age of 18, he became a diving instructor before obtaining a Degree in biology after studying in ONTARIO in CANADA, in JAMAICA and in KENYA. Before getting down to work on directing “Les Seigneurs de la Mer”, Rob STEWART travelled the world as a photographer for the magazines of the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

He led expeditions to some of the most far-flung areas of the planet and, at under thirty years of age, has already built up incredible experience and thousands of hours of diving, making use of the very latest diving and photographic technologies.

Things to see and do throughout the year

• in the Open Sea Pool, learn to understand sharks.
• educational activities:
  • Martin the shark for C1 and C2
  • His Majesty the shark for C3, 12 and 13 year olds schoolchildren

Books on sharks available from Nausicaa’s library

• Tous les Requins du monde. VAN GREVELYNGHE G. Ed. Delachaux et Niestlé, coll. Les Encyclopédies du Naturaliste, 1999. Ref. Nausicaa : B 544.61 VAN
• Les Requins. STEVENS J.Ed. Bordas, coll. Encyclopédie Visuelle : 1987. Ref. Nausicaa : B 544.61 STE
• Le grand Requin blanc sur les côtes françaises : observations et captures. A. DE MADDALENA et A.L. REVELART. Ed. Turtle editions/Plongée Magazine, 2008 Ref. Nausicaa : B 544.61 DEM
• Les Requins sont-ils des fossiles vivants ? CUNY G. Ed. EDP Sciences, coll. Bulles de Sciences, 2002. Ref. Nausicaa : B 544.61 CUN
• Les Dents de la mort. MANIGUET X. Ed. Laffont : 1991. Ref. Nausicaa : B 544.61 MAN

For children

• La petite Encyclopédie des requins. COUPE S et R. Ed. Bordas, coll. Petite Encyclopédie des Animaux : 1991. Ref. Nausicaa : PE2 - B 544 COU
• La Peur des requins. MACQUITTY M. et GREENAWAY F. Ed. Gallimard, coll. Les Yeux de la Découverte : 2002. Ref. Nausicaa : PE2 - B 544 MAC
• Les Requins (livre animé). OTTLEY GAY T. et FAUVRE M. Ed. Albin Michel Jeunesse : 1994 . Ref. Nausicaa : PE2 - B 544 OTT