{{short description| South African conservationist and shark expert (born 1970)}} {{multiple issues|{{primary sources|date=June 2025}} {{self-published sources|date=June 2025}}}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
'''Michael Rutzen''' (born 11 October 1970) is a South African conservationist, filmmaker, and cage diving operator. He has provided field support to South Africa's Department of Environmental Affairs,<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://theconversation.com/profiles/sara-andreotti-205546|title = Sara Andreotti}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-08-06 |title=Shark Week: 'Sharkman' |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/show-tracker/story/2007-08-06/shark-week-sharkman |access-date=2025-11-18 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> including the deployment of satellite and acoustic tags on great white sharks. On behalf of the Department, Rutzen also holds membership with the Whale Disentanglement Network; a group of marine experts who assist whales in distress.
==Early life== Rutzen was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, as the youngest of five children. He is the son of Richard Harvey Rutzen, an evangelist in the New Apostolic Church of Austrian descent, and Marie Rutzen (born Marie Strydom) of Afrikaner descent.{{citation needed|date=April 2026}}
== Career == === 1993–present === thumb|Mike Rutzen prepares to dive with a Great White Shark for a nature documentary.|alt=Mike Rutzen, wearing a black wetsuit and scuba gear, stands on a boat smiling as he prepares to dive with a Great White Shark for a nature documentary.After high school, Rutzen enlisted in the South African Defence Force (SADF) as a medic in the 115 Battalion. At the age of 20, he became a commercial fisherman in the fishing village of Gansbaai in the Western Cape. In 1993, the shark cage diving industry was established in the area, and Rutzen was the second local skipper to be employed for his seafaring expertise. During this time, he spent time interacting with great white sharks from the boat and observing their behaviour.
In 1998, Rutzen began free diving with sharks.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2016-08-23 |title=South Africa's great white sharks may be headed for extinction - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/south-africa-great-white-sharks-may-be-headed-for-extinction/ |access-date=2025-11-18 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2000, he established the shark cage diving company, Shark Diving Unlimited, in Gansbaai, South Africa. He claims an ability to communicate with sharks by making his body smaller or larger to attract or deter the animal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-07-25 |title=Great Whites: Diving with the Sharkman - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/great-whites-diving-with-the-sharkman-25-07-2011/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
Since 2009, he has supported population dynamics studies and DNA sampling programs by Dr. Sara Andreotti (Stellenbosch University),<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=New Research: SA's sharks facing serious genetic threat |url=https://www.news24.com/News24/new-research-sas-sharks-facing-serious-genetic-threat-20151113 |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref> where he sponsored and co-authored many white shark behavioral papers.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=O'Connell |first1=Craig P. |last2=Andreotti |first2=Sara |last3=Rutzen |first3=Michael |last4=Meӱer |first4=Michael |last5=He |first5=Pingguo |title=The use of permanent magnets to reduce elasmobranch encounter with a simulated beach net. 2. The great white shark (''Carcharodon carcharias'') |date=2014 |journal=Ocean & Coastal Management |volume=97 |pages=20–28 |bibcode=2014OCM....97...20O |doi=10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2012.11.006}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Literature of Rutzen M |url=http://shark-references.com/literature/listByAuthor/RUTZEN-M. |website=Shark References |publisher=sharkreferences.com}}</ref> One such study claims that South African white sharks belong to one larger interbreeding population. Some of the same sharks sampled in the southwest coast (False Bay) were identified on the east coast (Algoa Bay). It was also established that this particular shark population has extremely low genetic diversity, finding only four mitochondrial lineages, with 89% of the population sharing the same lineage.
The study concluded that South Africa's great white sharks have the lowest genetic diversity of any great white shark population. This puts their long-term survival at risk of extinction, due to a higher risk for disease and an impaired ability to successfully reproduce and adapt to change within their environment.''<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=30 November 2015 |title=Low levels of genetic diversity are putting great white sharks at risk |url=https://theconversation.com/low-levels-of-genetic-diversity-are-putting-great-white-sharks-at-risk-50792 |via=The Conservation}}</ref>''
=== The Sharksafe Barrier === Rutzen is one of the inventors of the Sharksafe Barrier, which purports to prevent negative encounters between sharks and people. The barrier was conceived in 2011 when Rutzen met Dr. Craig O'Connell, a marine biologist. Rutzen had noticed that sharks did not swim through the local kelp forests, even when pursuing cape fur seals. O'Connell, who was working on his PhD project, exploring the use of electroreception and electrogenesis stimuli—such as permanent magnets—to repel sharks, had achieved success, prompting the two to join forces.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duvenage |first=Engela |date=28 February 2024 |title=A safe barrier between sharks and swimmers |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d44148-024-00070-5 |website=Nature}}</ref>
[[Image:White shark.jpg|thumb|A great white shark]] === Media presence from 2005–present === Rutzen's first documentary, National Geographic's ''Beyond Fear'', was released in 2005. It described shark behavior and body language and showed Rutzen free diving with Great White Sharks without a cage. The film was shown internationally on the National Geographic Channel.
This documentary was followed in 2006 by "Sharks: Man-Eaters or Misunderstood?",<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 May 2022 |title=International Documentaries |url=http://www.sharkdivingunlimited.com/media/international-documentaries/ |url-status=usurped |website=Shark Diving Unlimited}}</ref> a John McIntyre production in association with the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, Sport Diver, and Shark Diving Unlimited, to educate workers at the Blue Planet Aquarium.
In 2007, Rutzen's Discovery documentary "Sharkman"<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpMFSL7fivI|title = The Sharkman|date = 24 July 2011|website = youtube|publisher = CBS}}</ref> was aired. Rutzen developed the storyline by visiting notable shark experts in their fields. He learned one form of tonic immobility from Dr. Samuel Gruber and another from Christina Zenato, a behavior which would lead him to the initial idea for the Sharksafe Barrier later on.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.hollywood.com/tv/sharkman-59460391/credits/|title = Sharkman Full Cast and Credits|website = Hollywood TV| date=20 November 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sharksafe Barrier Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/Sharksafebarrier |website=Sharksafe Barrier Facebook |publisher=Sharksafe Barrier}}</ref>
Sharkman became a staple of Discovery Channel's Shark Week for over ten years. In 2009, Rutzen was featured as the "Sharkman" on ''60 Minutes with Anderson Cooper'' on CBS. Rutzen then joined with ''BBC Natural World'' to develop ''The Great White Shark: A Living Legend'' (2008-2009), in which Rutzen visited a popular seal hunting area to understand white sharks better.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2496668/|title = Great White Shark, A Living Legend|website = IMDB}}</ref> He later hosted Shark Night on Discovery French TV (2010).<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJb7OcZXraE|title = Shark Night|date = 21 July 2011|website = YouTube|publisher = Love Nature}}</ref>
Rutzen was featured as a 'shark expert' in the IMAX 3D film, ''Great White Shark 3D'' (2010),<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://greatwhiteshark3d.com/about-gws/principals/|title = Principals|publisher = Great White Shark 3d}}</ref> which was filmed in his hometown of Gansbaai and featured underwater and aerial footage. The film was screened in IMAX theatres internationally.
Also in 2010, Rutzen acted as a stunt double and 'shark behavior expert' for Halle Berry's character in the Warner Brothers film, ''Dark Tide'', which was filmed in Gansbaai and based loosely on Rutzen's life experiences.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://gulfnews.com/culture/people/mike-rutzen-the-man-who-stuns-sharks-1.876586|title = Mike Rutzen: The man who stuns sharks|last = Boshoff Hundel|first = Angela|date = 1 October 2011 }}</ref> Rutzen was also featured as the 'Sharkmaster' on ''Stan Lee's Superhumans'', which investigated his claims that he could indeed interact and communicate with great white sharks using body language.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.history.com/shows/stan-lees-superhumans/episodes/season-2|title = Sharkmaster|date = 11 August 2013|website = Stan Lees Superhumans}}</ref>
In a 2012 interview, Rutzen noted that great white sharks "were not the mindless killing machines out to hunt us" as portrayed in horror films.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Goodwin |first=Jamie |date=10 May 2012 |title=Michael Rutzen In Dubai |url=http://www.timeoutdubai.com/knowledge/features/32618-michael-rutzen-in-dubai |work=Time Out Magazine Online}}</ref> He was featured in Linge De Fronte (French TV) "Alerte aux requin" (2013).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alerte aux requins |url=http://www.m6.fr/emission-enquete_exclusive/videos/11376434-alerte_aux_requins.html |website=m6.fr }}</ref>
On 13 May 2017, he was part of the team that broke the Guinness World Records title for the 'Longest Underwater Live Radio Broadcast' in the Ambassador Lagoon aquarium in Dubai's Atlantis, The Palm hotel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Swatman |first=Rachel |date=18 May 2017 |title=Dubai radio hosts achieves longest underwater live radio broadcast in Atlantis, The Palm aquarium |url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2017/5/dubai-radio-hosts-achieves-longest-underwater-live-radio-broadcast-in-atlantis-t-472465 |website=Guinness World Records}}</ref>
== Personal life == Rutzen currently lives in Gansbaai, South Africa and Tofino Beach in Mozambique with his two Mozambican beach dogs, wife, and daughter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://jeanrededuphotos.com/mikerutzenthesharkmanwedding/|title=Mike Rutzen Sharkman and Maraika van Wessem Stanford wedding|last=DeBod|first=Jeanre|date=4 March 2016|website=jeanrededphotography|publisher=Jeanre DeBod Photography|access-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>
In 2016, he was badly injured in a car crash in Mozambique which took the life of his girlfriend.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-07-31 |title="Sharkman" Mike Rutzen badly injured in car crash |url=https://api.theworld.org/stories/2016/07/31/sharkman-mike-rutzen-badly-injured-car-crash |access-date=2025-07-19 |website=The World from PRX |language=en}}</ref>
== Achievements == Rutzen won a Lifetime achievement award at the Tourfilm Festival Prague (2012) for his contribution to extending human boundaries with respect to the world's oceans and his pioneering work with sharks.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.radio.cz/fr/rubrique/tourisme/le-tourfilm-festival-explore-le-monde-depuis-1967|title = Le TOURFILM festival explore le monde depuis 1967|last = Tomanová|first = Denisa|date = 3 October 2013|via = Radio cz}}</ref> He was awarded the Princeton Global Network Registry Member of the Year (2012).<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.princetonglobalnetworks.com|title = Princeton Global Network}}</ref>{{Dead link|date=November 2025}}
==Scientific papers== *{{Cite journal |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301704906 |title=An integrated mark-recapture and genetic approach to estimate the population size of white sharks in South Africa |date=June 2016 |doi=10.3354/meps11744 |last1=Andreotti |first1=S. |last2=Rutzen |first2=M. |last3=Van Der Walt |first3=S. |last4=von Der Heyden |first4=S. |last5=Henriques |first5=R. |last6=Meÿer |first6=M. |last7=Oosthuizen |first7=H. |last8=Matthee |first8=CA |journal=Marine Ecology Progress Series |volume=552 |pages=241–253 |bibcode=2016MEPS..552..241A}} *{{Cite journal |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283488042 |title=New insights Into The Evolutionary History of White Sharks, Carcharodon Carcharias |date=October 2015 |doi=10.1111/jbi.12641 |last1=Andreotti |first1=Sara |last2=von Der Heyden |first2=Sophie |last3=Henriques |first3=Romina |last4=Rutzen |first4=Michael |last5=Meÿer |first5=Michael |last6=Oosthuizen |first6=Herman |last7=Matthee |first7=Conrad A. |journal=Journal of Biogeography |volume=43 |issue=2 |pages=328–339 }} *{{Cite journal |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275360128 |title=Risks and Advantages of using Surface Laser Photogrammetry on free ranging marine organisms a case study on white sharks carcharodon carcharias |date=April 2015 |doi=10.1111/jfb.12678 |last1=Leurs |first1=G. |last2=O'Connell |first2=C. P. |last3=Andreotti |first3=S. |last4=Rutzen |first4=M. |last5=Vonk Noordegraaf |first5=H. |journal=Journal of Fish Biology |volume=86 |issue=6 |pages=1713–1728 |pmid=25903107 |bibcode=2015JFBio..86.1713L }} *{{Cite journal |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263507582 |title=Effects of the Sharksafe barrier on white shark Carcharodon carcharias behavior and its implications for future conservation technologies |date=November 2014 |doi=10.1016/j.jembe.2014.06.004 |last1=O'Connell |first1=Craig P. |last2=Andreotti |first2=Sara |last3=Rutzen |first3=Michael |last4=Meÿer |first4=Michael |last5=Matthee |first5=Conrad A. |last6=He |first6=Pingguo |journal=Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology |volume=460 |pages=37–46 |bibcode=2014JEMBE.460...37O }} *{{Cite journal |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261831577 |title=A novel categorisation system to organise a large photo identification database for white sharks Carcharodon carcharias |date=April 2014 |doi=10.2989/1814232X.2014.892027 |last1=Andreotti |first1=S. |last2=Rutzen |first2=M. |last3=Wesche |first3=PL |last4=O'Connell |first4=CP |last5=Meÿer |first5=M. |last6=Oosthuizen |first6=H. |last7=Matthee |first7=CA |journal=African Journal of Marine Science |volume=36 |issue=1 |pages=59–67 |bibcode=2014AfJMS..36...59A }} *{{Cite journal |date=29 November 2012 |title=The use of permanent magnets to reduce elasmobranch encounter with a simulated beach net. 2. The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0964569112003195 |access-date=6 January 2025 |journal=Ocean & Coastal Management |doi=10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2012.11.006 |last1=O'Connell |first1=Craig P. |last2=Andreotti |first2=Sara |last3=Rutzen |first3=Michael |last4=Meӱer |first4=Michael |last5=He |first5=Pingguo |volume=97 |pages=20–28 |bibcode=2014OCM....97...20O |url-access=subscription }}
==Public speaking== Rutzen regularly delivers marine conservation and scientific talks to promote the preservation of the great white shark internationally. He often shares his views on responsible shark management, conservation, and the threats to the ocean. He also presents findings from his scientific field research on the great white shark.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.iol.co.za/bolander/news/learn-about-shark-conservation-at-mensa-meeting-5495425|title=Learn about shark conservation at Mensa meeting|author=Staff Reporter|date=17 August 2016 |website=IOL |publisher=Staff Reporter for IOL News}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" !Where !About !Date |- |Mare Nordest, Grignano, Italy |Understanding The Great White |26 May 2012<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mare Nordest Trieste 2012 |url=https://www.marenordest.it/marenordest_2012_2013/2012/ |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=www.marenordest.it}}</ref> |- |Art Cafe - Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/Events/DispForm.aspx?ID=3274|title=Great White Sharks On The Brink Of Extinction|last=Fourie Basson|first=Wiida|website=Welcome to Stellenbosch University|publisher=Stellenbosch University}}</ref> |Scientific research |17 August 2016 |- |Mensa Annual Meeting, Helderberg, South Africa<ref name=":1" /> |Scientific research |18 August 2016 |- |Wild Card - Cape Union Mart, Cape Town, South Africa<ref>{{Cite web |last=blogger |first=staff |date=11 August 2016 |title=August Talk Great White Sharks |url=http://www.wildcard.co.za/august-talk-great-white-sharks/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809005057/http://www.wildcard.co.za/august-talk-great-white-sharks/ |archive-date=2022-08-09 |website=Wild Card |publisher=www.wildcard.co.za}}</ref> |Conservation of the Great White Shark |24 August 2016 |- |Rotary Club of Stellenbosch, South Africa |Understanding The Great White |28 March 2017<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://web.facebook.com/MikeRutzen/posts/1255119294524519|title=Mike and Dr Sara Andreotti deliver a talk at the Rotary Club of Stellenbosch|last=Andreotti|first=Sara|date=29 March 2017|website=Facebook|access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref> |- |One&Only Cape Town, South Africa |Understanding The Great White |25 May 2017<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://omny.fm/shows/afternoons-with-pippa-hudson/inspirational-speakers-at-the-one-and-only-hotel-i|title=The Guest Speaker series interview with Pippa Hudson from Cape Talk radio|last=Hudson|first=Pippa|date=24 May 2017|website=Cape Talk Radio|access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref> |- |Helderberg Sunrise Rotary Club, Western Cape, South Africa |The Great White Shark |6 December 2017<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peacey |first=Sonja |date=2017-06-17 |title=Mike Rudzen - Shark Conservation |url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/HSRotary/permalink/1924525057588169/?rdid=PL4IVuVRYwCOB2BH |access-date=2025-08-30}}</ref> |- |Man In Extreme Environment, Trondheim, Norway |The Great White Shark |15 December 2017<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://trd.by/event/2017/12/13/Mike-ofrer-livet-for-å-forske-på-hvithai-fredag-kommer-han-til-Trondheim-15745542.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215162828/http://trd.by/event/2017/12/13/Mike-ofrer-livet-for-%C3%A5-forske-p%C3%A5-hvithai-fredag-kommer-han-til-Trondheim-15745542.ece|url-status=usurped|archive-date=15 December 2017|title=Mike ofrer livet for å forske på hvithai - fredag kommer han til Trondheim|last=Sand Solli|first=Ina|date=13 December 2017|work=trd.by}}</ref> |}
== References == {{DEFAULTSORT:Rutzen, Mike}} Category:South African conservationists Category:Living people Category:1970 births <references />
==External links== * {{YouTube|vHA2TAob5sk|White Shark Cage Dive in Gansbaai, South Africa with Mike Rutzen's Shark Diving Unlimited}} * [http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/12/11/pip.shark.diving/index.html?eref=rss_topstories#cnnSTCVideo CNN's Anderson Cooper with Mike Rutzen on Anderson Cooper 360] * [http://www.sharkmans-world.com/mrutzen.htm The Sharkman meets Michael Rutzen] * [http://www.unep.org/pdf/tunza/Tunza_7.1_English.pdf Save Jaws! An interview with Mike Rutzen in TUNZA, the United Nations Environment Programme's magazine for youth]
* [http://www.sharktraveler.com Shark Travel and Conservation Mike Rutzen] * [http://www.sharkdivingunlimited.com Mike Rutzen's Shark Cage Diving Company] * [http://www.animalplanet.co.uk/sharkman/index.shtml Sharkman Animal Planet]