http://www.boston.com/dailynews/233/nation/Almost_half_of_world_s_shark_a:.shtml

Almost half of world's shark attacks this year were in 50-mile stretch of Florida beach

By Mike Schneider, Associated Press, 8/21/2001 00:56

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. (AP) Almost half of the world's shark attacks this year have occurred along a single stretch of Florida's coastline long considered one of the finest surfing spots in the state.

While the area's pristine beaches and good waves attract surfers, experts say the green waters teeming with baitfish ballyhoo, mullet, pilchards are what draw the predators.

''It's a smorgasbord of food coming back and forth,'' said George Burgess, director of the International Shark Attack File in Gainesville.

Six people were bitten by sharks off New Smyrna Beach over the weekend, raising to 15 the total of attacks along more than 50 miles of Volusia County's beaches this year, Burgess said. The Volusia County Beach Patrol has a higher figure 17.

Forty shark attacks have occurred worldwide since January. Twenty-nine of them have been in the United States.

Last year, there were 79 shark attacks worldwide, 51 in the United States, 34 in Florida and 12 in Volusia County, Burgess said. The county is now on track to surpass its record of 18 shark attacks, set in 1996.

Lifeguards on Monday temporarily closed a quarter-mile stretch of New Smyrna Beach for a third day in a row after a shark was spotted swimming in the surf.

The precaution followed the beach patrol's standard policy of clearing the water for up to an hour after a sighting, said Capt. Robert Horster.

Surfers, lifeguards and shark experts are quick to point out that encounters in Volusia County are nothing new. Surfers and kayakers regularly see sharks in the surf. Last Easter weekend, there were seven attacks over a two-day period.

''They're always there. You just have to be careful and know what's around,'' said surfer Leonardo Pedreros, 18.

A combination of murky water, caused by recent heavy rains pouring runoff into the water, and an unusually crowded beach because of a surfing contest over the weekend, may have caused the sharks to mistake humans for fish.

''When the water is clean, there is no problem because the sharks can see,'' said Dan Jacocks, 44, who kayaks every morning off New Smyrna Beach, about 15 miles south of Daytona Beach.

On Saturday, a shark bit 19-year-old Jaison Valentin's left hand for food while he was surfing off New Smyrna Beach. The animal left a 2-inch gash on the back of his hand, requiring surgery to repair torn tendons and ligaments.

''It took a nice big chunk out of my hand,'' said Valentin, who said he plans to return to surfing once his hand is healed. ''I knew to get the hell out of the water.''

Another victim, 17-year-old Becky Chapman underwent surgery after being bitten in the leg. She was in good condition Monday.

Sharks also have been on the attack this month in the Bahamas, where two Americans were bitten in the leg. Both are recovering at a Miami hospital, one after having his leg amputated.

An 8-year-old boy was attacked by a bull shark in July in Pensacola, on Florida's Gulf Coast, about 400 miles away. Jessie Arbogast's arm was severed and he lost nearly all his blood. The arm was reattached but Jessie remains in a light coma.

Surfer Sean Nolan saw one advantage to the shark attacks.

''It thins the line,'' said Nolan, 24, a student. ''Usually it is so crowded. Maybe this will keep people away.''

On the Net:

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Sharks/ISAF/ISAF.htm

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001

Answers

"yum, yum, yum." That's what the sharks say...

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001

Barefoot... do you go to the beach? (To swim.) Just curious.

When I first moved to Tampa (and became a tampon) back in 19 and 78, I went quite frequently... swimmin', splashin' havin' a good ol' time.

There were times in Tampa Bay we'd be in a friend's boat, and jump in to cool off for a while. (In retrospect, this was particularly foolish. Tampa Bay is LOADED with sharks, just about year-'round.) As the years went by, and my brain became more "reasoned" (or seasoned), I decided it wasn't such a good thing.

The following article is off of Tampa Bay roadrunner's news service, FWIW. Having been here this long, I don't think what's going on is all that unusual. Just a LOT of folks that don't get it.

(fair use, educational purposes, etc.) ****************************************************** http://24.94.156.250/Newsstory.asp? storyname=2001/August/21/shark&search= ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS OR SOUND SCIENCE? Tuesday, August 21, 2001 Is there a link between restrictions on shark fishing and recent attacks?

An eight-year old child, arm ripped off, nearly dies. Two savage attacks in the Bahamas resulting in one man losing his leg. New Smyrna and Daytona Beaches resembling a MASH unit as surfers and swimmers have their bitten arms and legs bandaged on the blood-soaked sand. This, after six-people were attacked in less than 24-hours. And closer to home, video replayed on televisions over and over—hundreds, perhaps thousands of sharks swirling to-and-fro just yards from Bay area beaches.

It’s hard not to get the feeling that something strange is going on in the mysterious world of sharks. No, “just coincidence,” say scientists and environmentalists. “Happens every year—nothing new here,” comes the mantra.

But a growing number of people, especially Floridians who live in the shark-attack capital of the world, are starting to become dissatisfied with the calming statements from shark experts. Now, a new voice is beginning to come to the forefront with a possible explanation for the recent rash of attacks. Fishing restrictions have created what some say is a "shark sanctuary" in areas frequented by swimmers.

Commercial shark fishermen say they’ve been warning scientists for years that the severe restrictions imposed on their industry since 1993 would lead to more shark attacks and deaths along the Florida coast. A look at numbers that neither side disputes appears to bear that out. Since 1993, the number of sharks caught by commercial fishermen plummeted by 86%, while the number of attacks sky-rocketed an amazing 325%.

The 1993 federal restrictions were quickly followed by a laundry list of other measures, both state and federal, that have decimated the shark fishing industry. Among them, a ban on shark fishing within 9- miles of Gulf Coast beaches which has resulted in the creation of a veritable “shark sanctuary” in the areas that people are most likely to come in contact with sharks. Prior to 1999, there were 2,000 commercial shark fishing permits. Today, barely 200—a 90% percent reduction. The shark that ripped the arm off of an eight-year old was a Bull shark--a species well known for attacks on humans.

Also contributing to Florida’s record number of shark attacks last year (34) were laws that banned long-line fishing techniques and gill nets say industry advocates. Although most environmental groups deny that there’s a link between the fishing restrictions and the number of shark attacks, there are some differences of opinion even among shark advocates. When pressed, Chris Smith of the National Marine Fisheries Service, the same federal agency that mandated the 1993 restrictions, grudgingly admitted that it was “possible, but not likely” that the restrictions were contributing to shark attacks.

Even world-renowned shark expert, George Burgess of the International Shark Attack File, says the restrictions could be a “contributing factor” to the increase in Florida’s shark population but remains skeptical. And what does Florida Governor Jeb Bush think about the controversy? A spokeswoman says the governor continues to “monitor the situation” and says he “expresses his condolences to victims of shark attacks and their families.”

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001

The commercial fishing of sharks in the article reminded me... I used to be able to get "Thresher shark", but it seems to have disappeared from the seafood section/stores.

Wow, I LOVED that Thresher shark! Throw it on the grill, with Cajun spices....(Talk about yum yum yum, Barefoot!)

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001

Chris Smith is in denial. Idiot.

GDD, yes we used to have shark quite often when I lived in NC. I was surprised at how good it was. Haven't had it for a long time now, 12 years. I think we were eating mako.

In addition to the lawws on shark fishing, there are also changes in the fishing laws for sport fishing, and other food fishing. All of these were set up to increase the numbers of fish around the state. Well, it doesn't take a rocket scientist [and we have some so we know] to figutre out that sharks are gonna hang out where the food is. the people are just in the way.

Also, most people don't realize that the sharks like the beach areas, and consider them feeding areas.

-- Anonymous, August 22, 2001

To answer your question, which I forgot to do before, no I do not go swimming in the ocean. going to the beach is a pain in the butt. If we go down the keys, then I might walk along the beach a bit. I prefer swimming in a pool, and haven't done that in ages either.

-- Anonymous, August 22, 2001