Scientists are investigating the possibility of "cocaine sharks" off the Florida coast, testing whether sharks are consuming drug bales dumped into the ocean. According to BGR's report, the experiment is part of a TV series called Cocaine Sharks, premiering during Discovery Channel's Shark Week in July.
Using fake cocaine packages alongside fake swans, the researchers observed sharks showing interest in the cocaine bales, raising concerns about the impact of such chemicals on ocean ecosystems.
Are There Cocaine Sharks in Florida?
In recent decades, significant quantities of cocaine have frequently washed up on Florida beaches, originating from smuggling routes in South and Central America. To explore the potential impact on marine life, Tom "The Blowfish" Hird initiated a study to investigate whether sharks in the region were consuming the dumped narcotics and how it might affect them.
Partnering with University of Florida environmental scientist Tracy Fanara, they conducted experiments as part of Discovery's Shark Week in a TV series called "Cocaine Sharks." The study aims to shed light on the broader issue of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and illicit drugs entering the ocean and their potential repercussions on delicate marine ecosystems.
Hird told Live Science that the TV series aims to gain insights into the potential consequences of such drug pollution on the ocean environment and its inhabitants. They explored the Florida Keys, investigating reports of sharks consuming drugs that enter the region through ocean currents.
While diving with sharks, they observe unexpected behaviors, such as a great hammerhead swimming unusually close to them and a sandbar shark fixated on something invisible at a shipwreck. To delve deeper, they design three experiments involving pseudo-bales of "cocaine" dropped into the water.
In the first experiment, the researchers place the fake bales next to dummy swans, and the sharks immediately go for the bales, taking bites and even swimming off with them. The second experiment involves a bait ball of highly concentrated fish powder, causing the sharks to exhibit wild behavior akin to a dopamine rush.
The third experiment simulates a real-life drug drop by dropping the fake bales from an airplane, attracting multiple shark species, including tiger sharks. The observations lead to intriguing insights into how sharks might react to drug-contaminated waters.
READ ALSO: 1,300-Pound Hammerhead Shark Stalks, Attacks and Eats 6-Foot Smaller Shark on Florida Coast [Watch]
Cocaine Effects on Sharks Still Unknown
Hird and his team noted that the experiments do not necessarily conclude that sharks on Florida's coast consume cocaine. They recommend further studies to be conducted to confirm their findings and to look for other environmental factors that might influence the behavior of the sharks during the experiment.
As Live Science reported, Hird emphasized that they have little understanding of how cocaine affects sharks, and limited research suggests that different fish may react differently to the same chemical. Hence, establishing a baseline for comparison is currently challenging.
He also warns of a broader issue, as various pharmaceuticals like caffeine, lidocaine, cocaine, amphetamine, antidepressants, and birth control could also be entering the ocean and impacting marine life.
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