More Florida shark sightings a good thing, expert says

The Florida Aquarium's resident shark expert gave this advice if you spot one of the finned critters in the wild: "Enjoy the view."

What's happening: Shark sightings appear to be on the rise, associate curator Eric Hovland told Axios, seconding reporting from our friends in Miami.

• Footage of a rare great hammerhead swimming off the Dunedin Causeway last week got a lot of attention on social media.

Why it matters: More sightings means more technology, like the drone that captured the hammerhead video, but also more sharks — and that's a good thing, Hovland said.

• Sharks are "functionally extinct" in many reefs worldwide, but conservation efforts have helped them bounce back. There are about a dozen species that roam the Gulf of Mexico.
• The critters are essential to a balanced ecosystem, Hovland said. He'd be far more worried if there were fewer sightings.
• "These are really important animals and we share their habitat."

The bottom line: Don't be afraid, he added. Sharks generally aren't interested in humans. The sun and the drive to and from the beach pose a bigger danger for people.

• "If you're in the water, there are sharks out there," he said. "Get excited!"