The aquarium is using Shark Week to showcase local shark research and the vital role sharks play in the Gulf.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — As Shark Week captivates audiences across the country, the Texas State Aquarium is using the annual event to spotlight shark conservation and research happening right here in the Coastal Bend.
The aquarium is welcoming visitors to learn about sharks through exhibits, interactive experiences and its longtime partnership with the Harte Research Institute, which studies shark populations and marine ecosystems in the Gulf.
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Texas State Aquarium CEO Jesse Gilbert said the partnership has helped raise awareness about the important role sharks play in the ocean.
“We’ve worked with the Harte Research Institute for decades,” Gilbert said. “That’s part of our mission, to make sure people understand how important sharks are to this community and to the ocean.”
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Gilbert said the Coastal Bend is home to an active nursery for several shark species, with young sharks, or pups, commonly found in Corpus Christi Bay and along Padre Island.
“What happens here in the Coastal Bend for sharks actually benefits the entire Gulf,” Gilbert said. Sharks are considered apex predators, meaning they help keep fish populations balanced and marine ecosystems healthy.
While sharks often have a reputation for being dangerous, Gilbert said that image doesn’t match reality. “They’re not scary. They’re very, very beneficial,” Gilbert said. “You have to respect them, but the ocean wouldn’t be OK without them.”
The aquarium is also encouraging visitors to get a closer look at sharks through its “Saving Sharks” exhibit, where guests can safely touch bamboo sharks while learning about conservation.
“We try to take the scariness out of it,” Gilbert said. “They’re incredible animals.” The aquarium is home to nearly 20 sharks, including sand tiger sharks, which Gilbert described as one of the more docile species despite their large size and sharp teeth.
Aquarium leaders hope Shark Week encourages more people to appreciate sharks not only as fascinating animals but also as an essential part of a healthy Gulf ecosystem.