A big bite: Shark teeth bring in more than $1 million to region

VENICE — Venice has gained the title “The Shark Tooth Capital of the World” due to the large amounts of fossilized shark teeth found along its Gulf of Mexico beaches.

This has led to businesses and residents getting involved in the fossil tourism industry, creating an economic boost in Venice.

According to Visit Sarasota County, a fossil bed that runs 18-35 feet deep sits off the coast, embedded with shark teeth that date back millions of years.

As waves erode away the fossil bed, the teeth come loose and slowly move toward shore, making them accessible to beachgoers.

Due to its abundance, shark teeth have become a key factor in boosting tourism.

“It’s the town’s driving brand when it comes to tourism,” said Kelly Defebo, vice president of marketing and communications for Visit Sarasota County. “People come from all over the country to find teeth.”

When tourists travel to Venice, they stay in hotels, eat at local restaurants, purchase souvenirs and hire local guides to help them find shark teeth, creating cash flow in the city.

The Venice Shark Tooth Festival, an annual two-day event with food, music, and shark tooth-themed activities, has an estimated economic impact of $1.3 million alone, noted by Venice MainStreet.

The rising public interest in fossil tourism has created a niche market for local business owners.

Dive shops have opened around Venice, offering both tourists and locals the opportunity to search for fossils at greater depths.

“Tourists come because they’re very interested in the intense experience and the locals come because they want to go out with a professional operation,” said Keys Huka Dive owner Jerry Williams.

Tourists make up 50%, if not more, of the business Keys Huka Dive receives, Williams said.

Dive shops aren’t the only local business to profit from the shark teeth industry.

At Fossil Frenzy and Shark Frenzy, people come in to find fossils of different sizes and rarities, fossils that people may not find directly on the beach.

“There’s that curiosity of wanting to hold that fossil yourself and experience it in real life that I think keeps drawing people in as they always want something bigger and better,” owner Brittanie Pierce said. “It’s the discovery of it and as a business owner and as a shop, we offer that discovery at their fingertips.”

The benefits of fossil tourism extend beyond business owners alone.

At Earth Treasures, a reseller of nature and science products, everything is found or made locally by divers and craftsman.

“I make a lot of effort to buy local,” owner Don Rivette said. “I try to keep the money in the local economy and help out the local people.”

The economy centered around shark teeth is thriving in Venice, profiting both businesses and locals, with no signs of decline.

“Shark tooth hunting is growing in popularity and visibility,” Venice MainStreet CEO Kara Morgan said. “I think its tourism draw will continue to grow and benefit the Venice economy.”