06/08/2026
Cristina Zenato places her hand inside the mouths of wild sharks.
Not to feed them, but to remove the fishing hooks causing them pain.
After moving to Grand Bahama in 1994, Cristina developed an extraordinary relationship with the Caribbean reef sharks living in the surrounding waters.
Over time, she began recognizing individual sharks by their markings, injuries, behavior, and personalities.
Then she noticed something disturbing.
Many had steel fishing hooks lodged in their mouths. Some had fishing line trailing behind them, while others had swollen or infected wounds that made eating difficult.
Cristina decided to help.
Wearing protective chainmail, she learned how to approach the sharks calmly and earn their trust. Some rest against her as she gently handles them, giving her only a few seconds to reach into their mouths and pull the hooks free.
Each removal is different.
The hook may be buried deep, twisted into tissue, or attached to a length of line. Cristina must work quickly while respecting the shark’s movements and willingness to remain close.
She has now spent around two decades removing hooks and has collected hundreds of them.
Cristina believes the sharks recognize her touch. Some familiar animals repeatedly return to her, while others appear with hooks that need removing.
Her unusual bond earned her the nickname “Shark Whisperer,” but her work goes far beyond dramatic underwater encounters.
Through her nonprofit organization, People of the Water, she supports education, exploration, research, and marine conservation. She also teaches others that sharks are not mindless monsters, but vital animals deserving protection and respect.
Most people would swim away after seeing a shark’s open mouth.
Cristina moves closer, reaches inside, and removes what humans left behind.