Introduction xvii
of particular interest, and we maintain the International Sawfish Encounter
Database, which documents the occurrence of these endangered species. I
am proud to have been a founding member of the American Elasmobranch
Society and the IUCN Shark Specialist Group and have served as a presi-
dent and vice-chair of those organizations. Our interest in shark attacks has
naturally generated a lot of media interest, which opens the door to sharing
thoughts on more meaningful shark-related issues. Gene and I hope this
volume will serve to debunk some myths and spark additional interest in
these fascinating animals.
And from Both of Us
Together, we have reflected on how great it would have been to have found
a book such as this one when our fascination with sharks was new. Springer
and Gold’s excellent 1989 volume Sharks in Question came out about 25
years too late to educate us in our formative years. We hope this present
book answers questions and sparks the kind of excitement about these won-
derful animals that we have felt for so long, in readers from youngster to
adult.