Beachgoers need to be aware of sharks — and what to do if they come across one, or get bit, out in the ocean.
But they also need to understand how important they are for the ocean’s health, a critical part of the marine ecosystem.
Those are the reasons Maria Korcsmaros, who in 2016 was nearly killed by a great white shark’s bite while swimming off Corona del Mar, puts on the annual Run 4 Sharks and Ocean Health, an event held on Oct. 7 at the Newport Dunes.
The gathering, now in its sixth year, combines Korcsmaros’ love for fitness and passion for shark education and awareness. In addition to 1K and 5K runs, there will be demos, University of Long Beach Shark Lab and Shark Stewards booths and other educational exhibits on display.
“There’s going to be instances when we come across them. We need to understand they are integral to ocean health. We need them as much as other predators. We can’t go around killing them for our sport or for shark fin trade,” she said. “We need to protect them.”
Korcsmaros made international news after her shark attack while training for a triathlon off Newport’s coastline. She underwent several surgeries and years of physical therapy following the incident.
She might not be around to tell her story had it not been for two lifeguards, who happened to be training nearby in a boat and swiftly came to her rescue after she raised her arm for help as the water around her turned red.
The avid athlete needed 161 staples to pull her skin together after the shark’s teeth clamped down on her side. She now wears a necklace made of those staples and has a shark tattoo on her arm, feeling forever connected to and learning everything she can about the apex creature.
In recent years, she has teamed with Shark Stewards, a non-profit group that advocates against shark fin trade, holding monthly beach clean-ups in Long Beach and Newport Beach in an attempt to educate the public about sharks and the marine environment.
In addition to Shark Stewards, Cal State Long Beach’s Shark Lab will have a booth at the event to share information on the region’s shark populations, as well as sting rays, also prevalent off the Southern California coast.
Retired State Parks ranger Jim Serpa will be showing a collection of artifacts he has accumulated over the years that includes the teeth and jaws of several shark species.
Serpa likes to do his educational booth to teach people sharks are not all the same — and not all of them like to bite.
“You get a lot of people interested in sharks and like to talk — and I love to talk about sharks,” he said.
People are always amazed by his collection, wanting to know where he got all the teeth and jaws.
“Some donated, some fished, some bought off a wall in Florida,” he said with a chuckle.
There are more than 400 to 500 shark species, with a big difference between them all. Educating people will “hopefully quell some people’s fears,” he said.
Korcsmaros’ ability to become a shark advocate after one nearly took her life blows his mind, he said.
“I don’t know if I would have gone in the water again,” he said.
A lifeguard simulation of a shark rescue will take place in the lagoon by the City of Huntington Beach Marine Safety, and health providers will demonstrate how to apply a tourniquet. Other ocean education booths and activities will be open to the free public during the event.
Registration starts at 8 a.m. and the event starts at 9 a.m., with more than 140 runners already signed up.
Proceeds from the event will go to support the Shark Stewards youth ocean education program and beach cleanups in Orange and LA Counties.
More info: run4sharks.org
