The holiday season is upon us and we at Shark Magazine are here to remind you not to neglect the shark fans on your shopping list. From ornaments to kitchen gadgets, we have collected a briny bounty of gift inspirations for the shark lovers in your life. Sharks are more popular than ever, and thanks to some talented crafters, smart buyers, and savy merchandisers, stores are stocked with amazing finds. We combed the Internet for some of our favorite items to share with you, but take some time to search around and see what suits your needs. 

Remember--in addition to gifts, consider making a donation to a wildlife, marine, or shark-specific charity that benefits research and education. True animal lovers will appreciate your thoughtfulness at preserving an important, beautiful part of our ecosystem. If you do give a donation as a gift, perhaps consider an ocean-themed card for a classy presentation. But no matter what you decide, we wish you happy shopping and happy holidays! 

Shark Bite Earrings

These adorable polymer clay earrings are a fun, creative way to express your shark fandom. Each pair are handmade and come in multiple colors. Imagine how cute these would look nibbling on the ribbon of a present or poking out of the top of a stocking! 

Navy Shark Pillowcases 

With a clean, crisp color palette and a vintage style silk screen, these pillow cases are a lovely gift for anyone with a marine aesthetic. Navy blue and white are fantastic neutrals, so don't worry about clashing with anyone's decor. These would be a cute host gift as well. 

Handmade Birch Ornament

Laser cut on natural birch wood, this ornament would make a beautiful addition to any tree. For year round use, include a longer cord and hang it from a rearview mirror. The price point is perfect to pick up a few of these and use them as present toppers! 

Shark Koozie

When you combine the sweetness of crochet with the functionality of a can koozie plus the whimsy of a giant shark mouth, you literally have a present anyone would love to receive. This hilarious koozie would look great swaddling a bottle of wine (red, naturally) or even a can of mixed nuts or candy. And since it's made of acrylic, it's machine washable--y'know, just in case you spill a little. 

Custom Wall Decal

A custom wall decal is a great addition to a kid's room or even an office or living room. Since it's customizable, you can include a first name, but consider using your last name or even your business name. This is a super cool, kind of unexpected gift at a budget friendly price. 

Cocoon Shark Throw

How could anyone resist such a funny, unique item? This crocheted blanket looks so warm and cozy--and just a little terrifying. Snuggle up inside for a movie marathon or binge watching Shark Week! Include a Blu Ray of JAWS and some gummy sharks for a thoughtful date night.

Bitey Baby Booties

Delight new parents (or your own little tyke) with these sweet little shark booties. Handmade with great materials, these booties are a darling way to welcome a new shark lover to the family. 

Ugly Shark Sweater

Give to a friend with a great sense of humor or keep this for your very own ugly sweater party--either way, you cannot lose. Featuring paratrooper great whites and a classic shaker pattern, this pullover will keep your warm (probably from laughing.)

Retro JAWS Poster

How cool is this? A retro print inspired by 60s B-movies, this would be a beautiful piece for a home, office, or art studio. Grab a natural wood frame reminiscent of drift wood and you've got a classy gift for anyone.

Mermaid and Shark Stained Glass

What a lovely piece for that friend with a beach house. This stained glass duo feature the colors of the ocean on a stormy day with a touch of elegance. Additionally, if rose gold isn't your thing you can order customized colors to match the tastes of anyone on your shopping list. 

Shark Slippers

Remember the cute little baby booties?? What about a set of these for mom or dad? Soft fabrics crocheted into a vicious design make a charming juxtaposition, and these would make an awesome gift for teens or adults. 

Bathing Bitey Wrap Towel 

Turn bathtime into snack time with this great white towel hood. With its colorful embroidery and customizable name, this is a great gift for swimmers, beach goers, surfers or kids with a shark fascintion. 

Hand Knit Shark Stockings

Don't forget the perfect package to tuck all of your gifts in! 

Nothing on this list suit you? Check out places like Discovery Store, Zazzle, eBay or Modcloth for more awesome Christmas gifts and let us know what you find in the comments. For you shark lovers out there, which of these gifts do you hope find their way under your tree? 

On October 16th, a U.S Coast Guard aircraft spotted a grouping of over 20 Pacific great white sharks just off the coast of San Francisco, CA. These big beasties, measuring between 15-20 feet, were hanging out between Ocean Beach and the Pacifica Pier, about 100 yards offshore. Lt. Beau Belanger, one of the heliocopter pilots who witnessed the unique event, was "amazed."

Not only was it unusual for the sharks to be so close to such a populated area, but by this time of the year these larger sharks have typically headed for Año Nuevo or Drake's Bay. It's common to see smaller, juvenile sharks this close to the coast, but generally the more mature, larger sharks have retreated for deeper waters by this time of year. The Bay Area had an incredibly hot, late, summer due to El Niño, which raised water temperatures and likely kept the mature great whites interested in hunting the coastal waters--but even so, this area, known as The Red Triangle, is renowned for it's dense shark population. Although sightings like this are uncommon, approximately 38% of all shark attacks in the United States happen in the region between Bodega Bay, CA and Big Sur, CA. This accounts for 11% of shark attacks worldwide! Pacific great whites, the sharks native to this region, tend to be larger than other great whites, but even so the size of animals in this sighting were exceptional.

Though this sighting is rare, a study last year revealed that there are even more sharks lurking beneath the Bay Area's waters than previous researchers had thought. The study was led by George H. Burgess, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research, and a team of ten researchers. The findings showed that around 2,400 sharks occupied the area, when previous studies had come in between 200-400. Not only did this eliminate the need for protection per the Endangered Species Act, but it showed that the shark population was healthy, robust and breeding. Interestingly, the number of attacks on humans didn't show any spikes, although the number of shark attacks on otters, seals and other marine life did rise. In fact, earlier this October, a great white was spotted taking down a harbor seal just off the craggy coast of Alcatraz Island. So even though it's apparent that sharks are hunting their natural prey, with this number of apex predators populating their natural habitat, it pays to be cautious.

Both Ocean Beach and Pacifica are popular locations for swimming, diving, kayaking and surfing, so locals are encouraged to check #Sharkwatch for updates about the shark activity. It's not just about protecting humans, but protecting the animals as well. Shark attacks are rare, and often unprovoked, but the negative attention from the infrequent incidents is enough to fuel public fear over these important members of our ecosystem.

This Halloween, take a plunge into the briny deep for your costume inspiration. No matter if you're trick-or-treating, heading to house parties, or putting together an office-appropriate ensemble, the ocean's most terrifying creature is sure to deliver thrills and chills to the gills.

If you're feeling crafty, gather a simple grey hoodie, some white felt, googly eyes, fabric glue and red fabric paint. Using your sharpest scissor, trim the felt into one-inch triangles. Glue them around the opening of the hood as teeth and dot with red paint for after-meal-appeal. Glue the googly eyes on either side of the hood, just above ear level. Let dry overnight and finis! Pair over dark jeans or a skirt for a functional, warm costume.

Want something a little more elegant? Scour thrift stores and second hand shops for a grey or silver gown. Add opera length gloves in a matching color as your flippers and construct a cardboard dorsal fin, liberally coated in silver paint and glitter, as a crown. Grab a half dozen rubber fish from a toy store, wrap them in newspaper and tie with a green "seaweed" ribbon as a finishing touch--who are you? Miss Chum-merica, of course.

Looking for a groan-worthy pun? Pick up some inexpensive scrubs at a big box store, a plastic stethoscope, and a pad. Construct a dorsal fin out of cardboard, apply a couple coats of grey craft paint, and hot glue it to a headband. Use eyeliner or face paint to draw gills on your neck and make the rounds as a Nurse Shark in comfort all night long.

If you're not into DIY, places like Amazon, Spirit, Etsy and Target have excellent pre-made costumes for all ages and budgets. The classic pull-on body suit, such as this, or this hammerhead version, are great choices for low effort/high impact fun. You can wear them over anything and even add accessories, like your favorite band t-shirt, to personalize the look. 

Be your own Left Shark meme for a reasonable price with this party shark from Amazon. Turn it into a group costume by adding a Katy Perry, a couple of football players and a beach ball. Sounds like a costume contest winner to me! 

Kids costumes are a breeze with sweet bunted onesies from Spirit. Older kids will get a laugh out of shark-attack suits, which will keep them warm as they patrol the neighborhood for candy. 

Stand out from the crowd in this adorable, unique costume that combines the best parts of being a shark with the best parts of wearing a flirty dress. Bonus points for the functional hood and customizable sizing. If this is out of your budget, a quick Google search can pull up dozens of no-sew tutorials for similar outfits (some with pockets!)
Even pets can get in on the fun with this handmade shark hat from Etsy or this crochet pattern for crafty pet parents. 

No matter which denizen of the deep you channel for the big night, have a great time and don't worry--if all that candy rots out your teeth, you've got three more rows!