JAWS and the 'rogue shark' theory explained

The concept of the rogue shark theory traces its roots to the late 1930s, gaining its moniker in the 1950s thanks to Sir Victor Coppleson, a medical surgeon at the University of Sydney. Coppleson's return to Australia after World War I coincided with a surge in recreational swimming, leading to more frequent human-shark encounters and a rise in shark bite incidents. Historically, negative interactions between humans and sharks primarily occurred at sea, often involving sailors falling overboard or engaging in activities like fishing and waste disposal.

The notion that sharks developed a preference for human flesh and actively sought out swimmers emerged in the late 1800s. This idea gained traction after two incidents in Port Said, Egypt, were attributed to the same shark by the British Medical Journal. During this period, the concept of "rogue" wild animals, such as individual lions and elephants, was popularized to explain human injuries and fatalities resulting from wildlife encounters. However, it wasn't until later that similar behavior by sharks was classified as "rogue."

Chief Brody and Hooper discuss the ‘rogue shark’ theory in JAWS (1975)

Enter Victor Coppleson, who in 1929 began meticulously collecting newspaper clippings detailing shark bite cases worldwide. Corresponding with American author Horace Mazet, who was embroiled in debates over a series of shark bites in 1916 New Jersey, Coppleson aimed to challenge the prevailing belief that such incidents were rare. Mazet, in his efforts to support the idea that sharks do indeed attack humans, urged Coppleson to publish his findings. Thus, Coppleson's book, replacing the term "shark rabies" with "rogue shark," popularized the notion that certain sharks developed a taste for humans, leading to repeated attacks by these individuals.

The rogue shark theory evolved into the narrative that sharks "attack" humans with intent. The phrase "shark attack" gained prominence post-1930s, replacing earlier terms like "shark accidents." With a rise in serious incidents, likely due to increased recreational swimming, a "war of words" ensued, predominantly through academic channels. Coppleson's assertion in the Australian Medical Journal that "the evidence that sharks will attack man is complete" further entrenched the idea of intentional shark attacks.

Even during World War II, when the U.S. Navy held conferences on how to label shark bites, the term "shark attack" prevailed. It wasn't until the 1970s that scientists like David Baldridge and Dr. Samuel Gruber began challenging the myth of sharks as deliberate man-killers, citing biological, ecological, and behavioral factors to explain shark bites. Despite their efforts, communicating these findings to the public proved challenging.

Words by Ross Williams

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