James Cook University

A stroll through a Chinese street market offers a glimpse into centuries-old traditions, showcasing jars and pouches filled with herbs, spices, medicinal ingredients, and even dried seahorses and fish. Among these, swimming bladders—known as the “cocaine of the seas”—have become a prized item on display.

In the beaches of Japan, lifeguards are sweeping the waters, ready to prevent the dangers swimmers face in Wakasa Bay, about 320 kilometers from Tokyo. Contrary to common belief, however, the threat is not from sharks but from dolphins, whose attacks in the area have injured at least 47 people since 2022, with some requiring hospital care.