The  classic suspense novel of shark versus man! which was made into the blockbuster Steven Spielberg movie. The Jaws phenomenon changed popular culture and continues to inspire a growing interest in sharks and the oceans today.   When Peter Benchley wrote Jaws in the early 1970s! he meticulously researched all available data about shark behavior. Over the ensuing decades! Benchley was actively engaged with scientists and filmmakers on expeditions around the world as they expanded their knowledge of sharks. Also during this time! there was an unprecedented upswing in the number of sharks killed to make shark-fin soup! and Benchley worked with governments and nonprofits to sound the alarm for shark conservation.