In 2023, there was a warning that sharks off the coast of Florida could be chowing down on bales of cocaine deposited by traffickers.
Then, a high-profile experiment showcased during Shark Week tested out this warning. Hitting the headlines, the possibility of cocaine-fueled sharks became a hot topic. Despite the ensuing furor, this supposed problem remains highly skeptical.
“The experiments that were done for the TV show were really just to show people that there's a connection between our impacts and wildlife,” says Tracy Fanara, an environmental engineer based in Florida who was part of the original experiment. “The truth is we don't know how a shark would actually react to cocaine.”
What is known, however, is that packages of cocaine are deposited off the coast of Florida en masse, with many thousands of dollars’ worth eventually washing up on shore each year. The opportunity for sharks to encounter them, at least, is possible.
