–
A major reason for the increasing number of sightings are the harbor seals, whose population has also recovered through conservation efforts and are high on the sharks’ menu. “When more sharks feed near shore and more people swim there, the chance of unwanted encounters increases,” says Skomal.
–
“Probability of fatal bites will increase”
One means of avoiding such encounters is the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy Sharktivity App, which provides information on shark sightings. In the state of New York, Governor Kathy Hochul has also announced additional surveillance patrols after an unusual number of attacks by tiger and bull sharks off Long Island. Drones and helicopters will also be used.
–
According to Gavin Naylor, director of a shark research program at the University of Florida, the attacks are related to certain predator-attracting fish appearing more frequently off the Long Island coast this year, possibly due to warm currents.
–
Embed
—
Around five people die in shark attacks worldwide every year. There have only been two deaths on the US East Coast in the past 20 years: in Cape Cod in 2018 and in the state of Maine in 2020. However, Naylor warns that the number will increase in the future: “There are more great white sharks, so the probability of fatal bites will also increase.”
–
Lots more shark attacks in Florida
Further south, in Florida, with its numerous tourist beaches and tropical climate, the number of shark attacks is much higher: It still accounts for 60 percent of shark attacks in the US – and 40 percent of the world’s attacks.
–
Sharks are by no means the bloodthirsty monsters they are portrayed as, for example, in “Jaws”. Studies have shown that they sometimes mistake surfers and swimmers for their usual prey. This is especially true for great white sharks, which have pretty poor vision.
–
“Given the large number of people who are in the water around the world – if sharks preferred them as prey, we would have tens of thousands of attacks every year,” says expert Skomal.
–
Usually, the shark season on the east coast of the USA runs from August to October. But Skomal anticipates that this period will gradually expand as ocean temperatures rise.
—
