Shark Attack

http://rl.channel.aol.com/natgeo?id=20050614120909990001

National Geographic:

(June 13, 2005) -- The United States averages just 16 shark attacks each year and slightly less than one shark-attack fatality every two years. Meanwhile, in the coastal U.S. states alone, lightning strikes and kills more than 41 people each year.

Which just goes to show that sharks enjoy a reputation that is arguably more fearsome than their bite.

Each year there are about 50 to 70 confirmed shark attacks and 5 to 15 shark-attack fatalities around the world. The numbers have risen over the past several decades but not because sharks are more aggressive: Humans have simply taken to coastal waters in increasing numbers.

Over 375 shark species have been identified, but only about a dozen are considered particularly dangerous. Three species are responsible for most human attacks: great white (Carcharodon carcharias), tiger (Galeocerdo cuvier), and bull (Carcharhinus leucas) sharks.


While sharks kill fewer than 20 people a year, their own numbers suffer greatly at human hands. Between 20 and 100 million sharks die each year due to fishing activity, according to data from the Florida Museum of Natural History's International Shark Attack File. The organization estimates that some shark populations have plummeted 30 to 50 percent.

Because you can handle a gator 2 out of 15 times.

That has not stopped me from coming back. As I said, I ain't scared, win or lose.

That has not stopped me from coming back. As I said, I ain't scared, win or lose.

Tell the truth now. Don't you wish you had a different mascot?

I guess my question to the locals is; Outside of the clearly abnormal attack on the girl, is this apparent multitude if sightings/incidents all of us being hyper-aware because of the tragic incident and the activity is more or less 'normal'? Or not?. Thanks for any input.

(Kurt, on a side note, I went to CNN.com as soon as I was in front of a compuetr after hearing the news and only got about two sentences on the topic with "No further details available" at the bottom. Then I realized I was not thinking and logged onto graytonbeach.com. Next time I'll skip the cnn step!)

I'm pasting this post from Fox earlier in the thread:

.... sharks are in our waters all the time and rarely bother people. Most are harmless sand sharks. It's doubtful that the average beach goer would know the difference between a bull and other types of sharks.

Many times people mistake dolphins for sharks, but more often Cobia are mistaken for sharks. Cobia swimming look exactly like a shark to the average person.

Here's a pic of a Cobia:

Cobia swim near the shore a good bit.

I just read the post from Carter.....Thursday was the day we saw a dark shadow swimming down the beach about 75' out in Blue Mountain Beach where we stayed. Everyone got out of the water as well.

Tell the truth now. Don't you wish you had a different mascot?

No, I cannot hug or play with a tiger/eagle, elephant, gator, gamecock,etc.

On another note, if we played a team called the Florida Sharks, I would be a little scared, but I would never approve of us playing them in the Swamp or Gulf, only between the Hedges.

It's not a league of loveable mascots. Unless you count the Mickey Mouse versions, or the Commodore.

I'll be around so maybe I will bump into you. I don't know Edmund. Maybe I will meet him one day too.

We're renting the Walker house the week of the 4th. Ed is usually in his black SUV at sunrise. He and his wife live right on the lake. They've been pretty active with conservation efforts and doing what they can to limit construction for 20 years. We've seen so many changes over the years.

Back on topic it sounds like the boy will pull through less one leg unfortunately, but considering the alternative he made out okay. I still wonder if it was a shark he had on the line or a different one.

Joe, you're a Dawg?! I never knew, thought I was the lone k9 down this way. Woof woof woof!

Joe, you're a Dawg?! I never knew, thought I was the lone k9 down this way. Woof woof woof!

You are not alone, and I know plenty of other Dawgs, many who still live in Athens, with vacation houses in the area. I bump into Athenians all the time. Last year, I went to a street party in Blue Mtn, and saw 5 people I know from Athens. Turns out that they each own a house on that street, all by coincidence. None of them knew each other. Small world. I always said that sometimes you have to travel half way around the world to meet your neighbor.

OK, I'm confused JB! Who's the "SICK" one here? Sorry but I weigh in w/ Marine Biologist.

Let's see, if memory serves me, the shark who attacked the kid at Pensacola Beach a few summers ago was somehow pulled to shore and shot. Is it your opinion that the shark should have just been given a friendly pat on the fin and sent on his way? Please.

I think if an attack hit a little closer to home, you would lose that "tree hugger" mentality pretty quick. Sharks have a place in our aquatic ecosystem. I acknowledge that. However, a shark that attacks a human should be destroyed.

Let's see, if memory serves me, the shark who attacked the kid at Pensacola Beach a few summers ago was somehow pulled to shore and shot. Is it your opinion that the shark should have just been given a friendly pat on the fin and sent on his way? Please.

I think if an attack hit a little closer to home, you would lose that "tree hugger" mentality pretty quick. Sharks have a place in our aquatic ecosystem. I acknowledge that. However, a shark that attacks a human should be destroyed.

Simmer down JB, take a walk on the beach.
When you enter the open water, you enter the world of other creatures. No different than going into the great Alaskan wilderness, you are out of your element and are at risk, just as a grizzly bear is out of his element if he wonders into downtown Denver. That bear has a much higher risk of death.

Again, being human, we tend to have a huge ego, myself inluded, and even though our life is important to us, sometimes we forget that we are rather meaningless in terms of the whole picture of the universe. We are not God's only creation.

Joe, you're a Dawg?! I never knew, thought I was the lone k9 down this way. Woof woof woof!

Ugh.:roll: That dog licking the boy is a classic, even though I'd rather be licked by a gator. How does it feel to be licked by a gator?

http://www.sowal.com/bb/attachment.php?attachmentid=50

Chrisv, SJ

Yes, there are a few of us from Athens here. In fact I am a native Athenian.
GO DAWGS. Kenny Rogers is NOT.

Ugh.:roll: That dog licking the boy is a classic, even though I'd rather be licked by a gator. How does it feel to be licked by a gator?

http://www.sowal.com/bb/attachment.php?attachmentid=50

That is one ugly dog and one long tongue. I think I am on the wrong board.

roommate suggested it was weather related

trend data sez water temp -2dC from normal

a bit cooler but not that weird

seawifs calls gulf circulation interesting but not strange

could be tied to slowing of gulf stream/ost

or could just be one of those years

we were in ps joe yesterday just a few miles from cape san blas

saw sharks doing their thing balling baitfish then running them up on beach to trap them and feeding

on today show they said the shark seem 'posessed' theres a new angle - i get it its the apocalypse

today well be in west bay off dyers hope we dont get shot by happy guns port control

this new tracfone web browser rocks

WALTON COUNTY, Fla.- June 27, 2005-Following the fatal shark attack last
Saturday, the Walton County Sheriff's Office has increased it's efforts
to ensure safety along the coast. Sheriff Johnson has increased air
patrols, gulf patrols along the sandbar as well as added deputies for
shore patrol. These units will monitor the coast with four-wheel drive
vehicles and ATVs that are specially designed for beach duty.

The Sheriff's Department will be on aggressive patrol and will alert
swimmers to stay out of the water if a shark is sighted close to shore.
Swimmers are encouraged to exercise caution. The attached tip sheet
provides suggestions for reducing the risk of a shark encounter.
Lodging operators are encouraged to make copies for their guests.

While sharks are common in our waters, this is the first time in 100
years that there has been a reported shark attack in Walton County.

Today, a shark attack was also confirmed in Gulf County off Cape San
Blast. Shark expert, Dr. Erich Ritter confirmed this to be an unrelated
incident and does not foresee this to continue as a trend for shark
attacks in our area.

roommate suggested it was weather related

trend data sez water temp -2dC from normal

a bit cooler but not that weird

seawifs calls gulf circulation interesting but not strange

could be tied to slowing of gulf stream/ost

or could just be one of those years

we were in ps joe yesterday just a few miles from cape san blas

saw sharks doing their thing balling baitfish then running them up on beach to trap them and feeding

on today show they said the shark seem 'posessed' theres a new angle - i get it its the apocalypse

today well be in west bay off dyers hope we dont get shot by happy guns port control

this new tracfone web browser rocks

I love to hear other angles and from the scientific side. Thanks for your contributions and objectivity. :clap_1: Does anyone map the sand bars or do they shift too often? This may sound a little nuts but I wondered if sandbars could be defined as 'pawn shops of the deep' where the less desirables are seen hanging out in the alleys or on the deeper side. My thinking was that if the sandbars shifted significantly inland that would reduce the bathing buffer of swimmers and surfers and so we would see an increase in the probability of recent encounters- it's just a theory but thought I'd ask.

My thinking was that if the sandbars shifted significantly inland that would reduce the bathing buffer of swimmers and surfers and so we would see an increase in the probability of recent encounters- it's just a theory but thought I'd ask.

The attack ocurred pretty far out. I'm not so sure anything is different and maybe it was just an unfortunate encounter. People all around and in the media are trying to detemine some reason for it. maybe there is one - I don't know.

If there are more sharks close to shore than normal it could be any one of a dozen factors such as water temps, currents, oxygen levels, baitfish patterns, etc . . . .

There are 2 factors I can think of that have changed since last summer. 2 major storms that have changed the topography of the beaches, sand bars, and probably depths offshore. These storms also may have changed a whole host of other things not readily apparent such as water temps, currents, marine populations and patterns, etc.

The other factor that is easy to observe is the lack of June Grass which is usually thick in the water starting in May or June and lasting a few months. We got a lot of sargassum weed this year but no June grass. That shows you that the water is not the way it usually is. I don't know if there's a connection, but I'll bet sharks don't like swimming in the thick green stuff anymore than we do. The lack of June grass also shows that some other things connected to its absence probably have changed.

Also, When there's a lot of June grass in the water people may be less likely to see sharks near the beach if they are there because they are obscured.

A 3rd factor that may be important is the banning of large gill nets for commercial fishing in 1994. These nets scooped up everything in their path, including many species of fish and animals in the food chain that weren't wanted for sale but were killed nonetheless. Since the net ban we have seen many more fish in the gulf and many species were depleted for a long time before that. No doubt those nets also inadvertently killed sharks and their food.

Only time will tell. In a way I find it amazing we haven't had a shark-related fatality in SoWal in 100 years.

The counties involved here need to spend money to protect the public. I thought this would happen awhile back when there were multiple rip current drownings.

I completely disagree. Government is not our baby sitter. I can think of little more intrusive to my enjoyment of the beach than a lifeguard blowing whistles like it's the local public pool.

Swimming in the gulf is not without risk. The county is doing a good job educating people about that, but I do NOT want them playing big brother any more than they already do.

I completely disagree. Government is not our baby sitter. I can think of little more intrusive to my enjoyment of the beach than a lifeguard blowing whistles like it's the local public pool.

Swimming in the gulf is not without risk. The county is doing a good job educating people about that, but I do NOT want them playing big brother any more than they already do.

I totally agree with you, "lenzoe"! Keep the government out of our leisure hours. At some point each individual has to be responsible for his own actions. The flags are intrusive enough.

One form of government intrusion that might be OK would be for them to make it easier for commercial fisherman to hunt sharks--this presumes that some years back Florida made it more difficult which resulted in a higher number of shark attacks (based on something that I read some time back)

Australia has used shark nets for years and years off the Gold Coast (Queensland).
There has been talk of removing them, because they snare more than sharks.
But AFAIK they are still there.

All of life has an element of risk and we do share the ocean as well as dry land with critters other than our selves. Having said that, I well understand that dreadful fear of being eaten alive, and I feel very sorry for the shark victims and their families.

The other factor that is easy to observe is the lack of June Grass which is usually thick in the water starting in May or June and lasting a few months. We got a lot of sargassum weed this year but no June grass.

I have enjoyed the clean water so much that I completely forgot that the June Grass never rolled in this year.

I completely disagree. Government is not our baby sitter. I can think of little more intrusive to my enjoyment of the beach than a lifeguard blowing whistles like it's the local public pool.

Swimming in the gulf is not without risk. The county is doing a good job educating people about that, but I do NOT want them playing big brother any more than they already do.

Then if not goverment, where were the supervising adults? Notice I said in areas of high concentrations of people. When people are massed together in close proximity, it's already a public pool. More people, more problems. Lifeguards along those streches of condo canyons will save lives. An alert lifeguard sitting 8-10 feet up in a chair can spot large things in the water you would not see. I think it's perfectly sane too tell someone swimming at 200 yards to come in. It's just like the intersection needing a traffic light. After a certain number of deaths, folks will not tolerate the outcome.