It's .... Shark Week at FLORIDA TODAY | From the Editor

Twenty-seven.

That's how many stories we have coming for you, starting in Sunday's FLORIDA TODAY, for our blowout "Shark Week" coverage.

You may be rolling your eyes. I get it. But you know what 27 stories about all things shark tells me: It tells me our newsroom needed a break from covering politics, shootouts, launches, the school board, scary weather, etc.

They wanted a journalistic palate cleanser, so to speak, and sharks obliged.

What's that shark you see?If you see a shark in Brevard, it's likely one of these

(Maybe this plays into it, too: The call for shark stories and shark story assignments went out around the same time as our election plan and, perhaps, some saw this as a way to forestall the deep dive into politics and elections that will consume us all of us very soon).

But don't misunderstand. There's some very good journalism here. You'll find stories that are thought-provoking. Stories that surprise and educate and, yes, maybe some will be a little frightening.

Engagement Editor John A. Torres led this Shark Week effort, and I asked him how it went.

"I always knew sharks were fascinating creatures but was amazed to learn how many species there are (more than 400) and which ones frequent Space Coast beaches. (The blacktip shark being the most common)," he said.

"The fact that there is research to suggest sharks are basically prehistoric creatures that have been in our oceans for 400 million years blows my mind. Another recent discovery is that a Greenland shark — not found in our waters — was found to be 500 years old!"

John added: "To paraphrase one expert quoted in a story: Sharks don’t live that long by being dumb. They are highly intelligent, not mindless eating machines. Some species are even social."

We kick off this week with a column by John that shares your shark encounters, and a fascinating piece by Environment Reporter Jim Waymer that provides some insight into all the ways we're similar to sharks — and what we can learn from these toothy creatures. I told Jim, his story almost — almost — made me like sharks.

And just so you know we didn't lose our minds over sharks, Jim is keeping us straight. "Important to keep shark risk in perspective," he said, noting 60 people have drowned in Florida so far in 2024. Fatal shark attacks in Florida thus far in 2024: 0.

As a swimmer myself, the last thing I want our coverage to do is scare you out of the water. I love the water so I asked some of the women I swim with to help me describe how much (or little) they worry about sharks while open water swimming.

"Open water swimming is exhilarating," said Karen Monahan. "I just try not to think of the creatures below me." Katrina Neill noted that she began open water swimming as part of triathlon training (I did the same).

"I learned to get over my fear of natural water creature encounters and become more confident with my swimming abilities," Katrina said, adding that it might lead her to take up surfing. And Eileen Corelli said, "I'm not at all concerned about sharks when I'm swimming. I'm worried about current, waves and staying with the group."

So there you have it, no need to hear the Jaws theme song in your head while in the water. Get out and enjoy the water that's all around us, and hopefully after this week, you'll consider yourself better informed about the sharks whose home we enter — not more scared of them.

Although John did confess: "Even though the chances of being killed by a falling coconut are greater than being killed by a shark, reading all these stories will probably keep me in my pool for the foreseeable future."

Thanks for reading us.

Executive Editor Mara Bellaby is taking this week off but will read your emails upon return. She can be reached at mbellaby@floridatoday.com.