Dangerous Ocean Predator to Fly Over Panama City Beach—And It’s Not Who You Think 

For Immediate Release:
July 3, 2025

Contact:
Hannah Nelson 202-483-7382

You can run, but you can’t tide! With TV’s fearmongering event Shark Week lurking around the corner, PETA is giving beachgoers some food for thought about the real predators stalking the ocean by flying a sky banner over Panama City Beach on July 7 that will read, “Dangerous Predator in Water: YOU! Go Vegan.”

Every year, more than 100 million sharks and trillions of other animals are killed by humans—compared to seven confirmed shark-related human fatalities worldwide in 2024, and just 14 shark bites in Florida, the so-called “Shark Attack Capital of the World.” Scientists estimate that more than 650,000 marine mammals, including dolphins, whales, and porpoises—as well as millions of sea turtles, birds, seals, and other “nontarget” fish—are seriously injured or killed by commercial fishing practices annually, something that should give diners some reason to skip the “all you can eat” seafood buffet.

“Humans are the deadliest animals on Earth, committing hundreds of thousands of homicides and killing trillions of other animals for food and fun every year,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “PETA’s message aims to give beachgoers something to chew on this summer and encourages everyone to go vegan and leave sharks and all animals in peace.” PETA is standing by with free downloadable Vegan Starter Kits at peta.org.

Sharks are complex, intelligent beings who don’t want to interact with, much less harm, humans, and feed mostly on smaller fish and invertebrates. Beachgoers are 3,820 times more likely to drown than die from a shark bite. Additionally, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 77 children each year choke to death in an effort to consume hot dogs, meaning that, statistically, people are much more likely to be killed from a hot dog than a shark.

PETA’s flying banners can be seen in the skies above Panama City Beach and Stuart Beach on July 7. 

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat or abuse in any other way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kitsfor people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.