Nat Geo takes a bite out of summer with Sharkfest

When Discovery Channel aired its inaugural Shark Week back in 1988, the door was opened for an annual summertime TV event that has remained popular ever since. More than two decades after Discovery first tested the waters, National Geographic decided to dive in with its own version, launching its first Sharkfest in 2012 — which, not coincidentally, arrives three weeks before this year’s annual Shark Week.

However, if there’s one thing that’s been demonstrated it’s that fans of shark-related TV programming tend to love ’em both, and Nat Geo’s press release for this year’s Sharkfest declares that its “fin-credible 14th year” will combine “jaw-dropping encounters with groundbreaking science and expert-led storytelling that reveal new insights into the behaviour, power and conservation of one of the ocean’s most fascinating predators.”

It all kicks off on Sunday via a special called Hammerhead Sharks Up Close With Bertie Gregory, airing on Nat Geo while also streaming on Disney+. The program follows Emmy- and BAFTA-winning cinematographer and National Geographic explorer Bertie Gregory as he dives into Mexico’s Pacific waters to discover how protected seas can deliver a spectacle of one of the ocean’s most visually iconic sharks, the unmistakable hammerhead.

“In Mexico’s Pacific waters, Bertie Gregory goes in search of one of the ocean’s most iconic predators: the hammerhead shark,” declares the logline. “Once abundant in these seas, hammerhead populations have plummeted, making sightings increasingly rare. Joining forces with leading shark scientists and local experts, Bertie investigates what’s driving the hammerhead decline, and how protected waters offer hope for the future. His journey culminates in a rare and unforgettable encounter that shines a light on the future of one of the world’s most famous sharks.”

According to Gregory, his goal with this special — as with his previous Sharkfest offerings — is to encourage viewers to open their minds when thinking about sharks and their place within the underwater ecosystem. “I hope that it makes people rethink sharks and rethink how humans can live alongside sharks . . .” he explained in an interview with Voice Mag. Additional Sharkfest programming will be rolled out throughout the month, airing on Nat Geo’s various channels while also streaming on Disney+. This year’s new offerings include:

World’s Biggest Mako

A team of scientists and a cinematographer search the waters north of New Zealand to find giant mako. With the help of a local fisherman who has worked this particular stretch of ocean for decades, they encounter a series of increasingly large mako sharks. While endangered elsewhere on the planet, this team discovers a population of mako that might be making a comeback.

Attack of the Samurai Sharks

A 3,000-year-old cold case could be the earliest known victim of a shark attack. The skeleton, found in Japan, is covered in unusually deep cut marks. While the wounds look like the work of a frenzied samurai sword attack, could the victim’s fatal injuries have been caused by a shark? If so, which species of shark is the prime suspect? Shark experts Alyssa White, Gavin Naylor, Kirin Sekito and Masato Nakatsukasa investigate this ancient mystery.

Shark vs. Giant Croc

Shark experts Nico Lubitz and Adam Barnett head into the wilds of northeastern Australia to investigate reports of bull sharks and saltwater crocodiles clashing along the Daintree River. Who’s the top dog? Attempting to fit a camera to the back of a big territorial boss croc, they risk all to find out.

Shark Island Showdown

At remote Norfolk Island in the South Pacific, shark experts Lauren Meyer, Adam Barnett and Charlie Huveneers investigate why tiger, dusky and Galapagos sharks gather here in such high numbers. Through daring dives, tracking technology and bold experiments, they uncover hidden nurseries, shark hierarchies and a rare predator hotspot.

Sharks: Reef Rivals

On a remote island in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, scientists investigate why huge numbers of sharks gather in one dangerous lagoon. As tides transform the environment, different predators — from lemon sharks to tiger sharks — battle for survival, revealing a complex battleground driven by turtles, birds and shifting hunting opportunities.

Great White Gauntlet

Off Australia’s remote Greenly Island, shark experts Lauren Meyer, Charlie Huveneers and Adam Barnett investigate reports of unusually high great white activity around a thriving seal and sea lion colony. Battling brutal seas and unpredictable weather, the team races to tag a white shark with an onboard camera to uncover how these predators hunt.

Hammerhead Sharks Up Close With Bertie Gregory airs Sunday on National Geographic; streaming Monday on Disney+