Some of the crew from Nature Films Network will also appear during the “Dive Stream.” They’ll share experiences they’ve had while filming truly gargantuan Basking Sharks and Great Whites. Chief among these is “Shark Clans,” a mesmerizing film which puts viewers in the dive cage as they learn about the surprising social interactions of Great White Sharks in the waters off the Australia coast. This year’s SharkFest! is presented by Nature Films Network, a Chattanooga-based video production and stock footage licensing company whose credits include a number of underwater documentaries.

If they can’t join the fun live, or if they want to replay the presentation, the same link will let them tune in after the fact. using a private link delivered via email. Members can access the SharkFest! stream between 6-7 p.m. During this special SharkFest!-only event, viewers will be able to venture above the exhibit to see for themselves how the Aquarium ensures the health and proper nutrition of these sleek predators using, quite literally, a 10-foot pole. This 615,000-gallon tank is home to a pair of Sandbar Sharks and a quartet of Sand Tiger Sharks. Viewers can expect to hear stories and insights about sharks pulled from Cousteau’s many encounters with them during a life spent advocating for - and occasionally living alongside - ocean life.įinally, the stream will conclude with an exclusive feeding of the Aquarium’s enormous Secret Reef exhibit. Ocean explorer, conservationist and underwater filmmaker Fabien Cousteau (grandson of the famed Jacques Cousteau) also will be making a special guest appearance. There, experts will introduce viewers to the Aquarium’s rarely seen Swell Sharks and Carpet Catsharks, two species which defy belief by glowing under ultraviolet light.Īquarium members won’t be the only ones logging in to join the fin-tastic fun. Next, the fun continues well off the visitor path in a special, behind-the-scenes staging area. (Don’t worry, though, those jaws are solely for cracking the tough shells of urchins.) These include Epaulette Sharks, aka “Walking Sharks,” and the brilliantly patterned Japanese Horn Shark, which is renowned for having the strongest bite force of any animal. Members will kick things off by learning more about the sharks that inhabit the Stingray Bay touch tank.

In light of the continuing need to practice physical distancing, however, this year’s celebration will be a virtual live event packed to the gills with behind-the-scenes access, special guest appearances and up-close views of the many shark species that call the Aquarium home. This jaw-some celebration of all things shark-related is exclusively for Aquarium members and is included with an Aquarium membership. In recognition of this vital - if often misunderstood - role, the Tennessee Aquarium hosts SharkFest! each August. In reality, these sleek predators are hugely influential in balancing aquatic ecosystems.įor all their (in)famous portrayal in books, movies and video games, however, sharks swim a fine line between fear and adoration. While lighthearted, this iconic scene - “Fish are friends, not food!” - plays up the long-standing view of sharks as ravenous killers with insatiable appetites. 18, 2020) – It’s a telling example of pop culture echoing the real-life sentiment that Disney’s much-beloved modern classic “Finding Nemo” features a support group for sharks struggling to master their overwhelming need to feed.

Virtual aquarium shark