In the popular media, sharks have traditionally been portrayed as vicious killers. Motion pictures,  such as JAWS, news media coverage of shark attacks and many documentaries still perpetuate this  image by sensationalizing attacks and disproportionately portraying sharks engaged in feeding or  aggressive behaviors. According to a survey conducted in 2003 by the National Aquarium in Baltimore  , Maryland , seventy percent of Americans surveyed recently believe that sharks are dangerous. 72  percent also believe that shark populations are just adequate or too high.

Shark attacks are disproportionately sensationalized and sharks are vilified feeding the public’s  unrealistic image of sharks. According to the International Shark Attack Files (ISAF) it is 15 times  more likely to be struck by lightning than to be bit by a shark, and 89 times more likely to die of  being struck by lightning than dying from a shark bite. These figures demonstrate that the public  perception of sharks is largely due to a lack of education and a distorted image fed to the public  by mainstream media. The lack of knowledge about sharks perpetuates the continued over-exploitation  and depletion of these species.

One of IEMANYA OCEANICA’s goals is to create educational programs that raise local and international  awareness of sharks and encourage public and government participation in conservation efforts. It is  crucial for nonprofit organizations to foster the change of the stereotypical image of sharks as  killers and promote awareness of the ecological role of sharks and rays.