Great Yarmouth Sea Life Centre is shining a light on one of the ocean’s greatest predators in an interactive Shark Weeks adventure.

The aquarium, which is home to more than five species of shark from Guitar to Black Tips, will host a series of shark discovery activities with special talks and quizzes to help visitors get to know the sleek predators which have been rulers of our seas since prehistoric times – and why they desperately need our help.

Shark fanatic and lead aquarist at Great Yarmouth Sea Life Centre, Darren Gook, explained: “This is a project really close to my heart because research shows as many as 70 million sharks die every year in shark-finning operations or as by-catch from the commercial fishing of other species.

“Many populations are at crisis point - including Great Whites - but because so many people are scared of sharks, there isn’t as much public sympathy for their threatened status. We want to change this now, before it’s too late.”

During the Shark Weeks experience, Darren and his team will demonstrate how without these essential apex predators, the whole marine eco-system could collapse.

Darren continued: “Sharks are essential for keeping our seas healthy by eking out the weak and sickly, and contrary to popular opinion they pose very little risk to humans. Shark attacks on people are rare, and those that do occur are mostly cases of mistaken identity when sharks confuse humans with seals or turtles.”

But though Sea Life staff will be helping the public to overcome their fear of sharks, there will be jumps and squeals elsewhere in the aquarium this Halloween. While Shark Weeks will run from Saturday 14 – Tuesday 31 October, children will also have the chance to brave the centre’s ‘yucky dip’ from Saturday 21 - Tuesday 31 October.

For more information about activities running at Great Yarmouth Sea Life Centre in October, please visit: www.visitsealife.com/great-yarmouth.