The primary reasons for slightly increased shark attacks are two fold. The increase in the seal population and more people in the water. Seals have rebounded significantly since they became a protected species. Seals are intertidal animals, i.e. they live partly on dry land and go in the ocean to hunt for fish. Seals are the favorite prey of sharks because of their high calorie content.
We used to go to Cape Cod and the south shore a lot when I was a kid. Never saw a seal on the beach, anywhere. Now they are mostly everywhere in those areas. I also spent a lot of time fishing on the coasts of several New England states in my middle years. Never saw seals during any of those excursions. Now, seals are everywhere.
Sharks are also semi protected. They are protected by regulation. Back in the day when commercial fishermen caught sharks, they harvested the fins for soup and medical items, then the fishermen threw the finless sharks back in the water to die. That practice has been outlawed by regulation.
Then there's the general increase in human population and related increase of people in intertidal coastal waters. Sharks are predators of opportunity. More people in the water in intertidal areas where sharks frequently hunt = more shark attacks on humans. Although the percentage of sharks attacks compared to the percentage in humans in the water has decreased.
2 comments:
Hell No, it's just mother nature. If you don't want to get bit, stay out of the water. It's all a gamble no matter what you do.
The primary reasons for slightly increased shark attacks are two fold. The increase in the seal population and more people in the water. Seals have rebounded significantly since they became a protected species. Seals are intertidal animals, i.e. they live partly on dry land and go in the ocean to hunt for fish. Seals are the favorite prey of sharks because of their high calorie content.
We used to go to Cape Cod and the south shore a lot when I was a kid. Never saw a seal on the beach, anywhere. Now they are mostly everywhere in those areas. I also spent a lot of time fishing on the coasts of several New England states in my middle years. Never saw seals during any of those excursions. Now, seals are everywhere.
Sharks are also semi protected. They are protected by regulation. Back in the day when commercial fishermen caught sharks, they harvested the fins for soup and medical items, then the fishermen threw the finless sharks back in the water to die. That practice has been outlawed by regulation.
Then there's the general increase in human population and related increase of people in intertidal coastal waters. Sharks are predators of opportunity. More people in the water in intertidal areas where sharks frequently hunt = more shark attacks on humans. Although the percentage of sharks attacks compared to the percentage in humans in the water has decreased.
Nemo
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