http://www.npr.org/2015/07/05/420237437/dont-blame-the-sharks-for-perfect-storm-of-attacks-in-north-carolina/

Don't Blame The Sharks For 'Perfect Storm' Of Attacks In North Carolina

JULY 05, 2015 7:54 AM ET
NPR STAFF

The recent spate of attacks — seven since June in North Carolina alone — has little to do with the shark population off American coastlines. Shark attack, George Burgess says, "is driven by the number of humans in the water more than the number of sharks."
The recent spate of attacks — seven since June in North Carolina alone — has little to do with the shark population off American coastlines. Shark attack, George Burgess says, "is driven by the number of humans in the water more than the number of sharks."

Those who spend much time on the Carolina beaches know that many shark species, and even whales, are frequent visitors during the summer. And, though it's extremely rare, those sharks have been known to attack humans.

But this year, there have already been seven shark attacks off the North Carolina coast since June. It's a number that has surprised even the most seasoned of shark-watchers.

"We have a sort of perfect storm going on there," says George Burgess of the International Shark Attack File, a long-running database of shark attacks at the Florida Museum of Natural History. He tells NPR's Lynn Neary that, while experts don't know precisely what's causing the uptick in attacks in North Carolina, there isn't much doubt about how you ought to respond if you're caught in one.

"There's nothing to be gained by playing dead here," he says. "If a shark is actually coming to grab you, if you can give it a pop on its nose more than likely it will veer off. Take advantage of that time, of course, to get out of the water."

Interview Highlights

On what might be causing the increase in attacks

There's environmental factors, such as an early summer, warm temperatures, and of course it's sea turtle nesting season, when the sea turtles leave the water to go lay their eggs on the shoreline and, coming and going, they're pretty vulnerable to big sharks. Of course, it's summertime — school's out, family vacations. Never been more people in the water. ...

People surround and attend to a 68-year-old man who was bitten by a shark in waist-deep water off Ocracoke Island, N.C., on July 1. The man suffered wounds to his rib cage, lower leg, hip and both hands as he tried to fight off the shark.
People surround and attend to a 68-year-old man who was bitten by a shark in waist-deep water off Ocracoke Island, N.C., on July 1. The man suffered wounds to his rib cage, lower leg, hip and both hands as he tried to fight off the shark.
Laura I. Hefty/AP
Now, does that explain the seven [attacks] we've had in three weeks? The answer is no. There's some other stuff going on here that we don't know about — we'll call it an X factor. Probably, oceanographic factors are involved.

On why a shark might attack a human

All shark attacks are, of course, fundamentally motivated by feeding. And probably 90 percent of all shark bites — they're quick grabs and let-goes by small sharks, but a small percentage of those are done by the big boys and girls, the larger sharks. When they bite, whether it's intentional or unintentional, [those bites] result in major injuries. And unfortunately, that's what we've seen in North Carolina. We've had several of these bites that are the real thing.

On whether these attacks might inspire an increase in shark-hunting

Any time a community has its first Jaws-like scare, the first thing that occurs is there's fear in the community. The second, there's denial. And then the third is retribution. Let's hope we don't get to the revenge stage. The chances of catching the actual shark that was involved in this are slim to none.

A great white shark in the Pacific Ocean near the coast of Guadalupe Island, Mexico.
13.7: COSMOS AND CULTURE
Great White Sharks And The Thrill Of Unseen Nature
On just how many sharks there really are in the water

Shark populations in the United States and around the world are at perhaps all-time lows. On the other hand, the human population continues to rise every year. We have no curbing of that.

And fundamentally shark attack, then, is driven by the number of humans in the water more than the number of sharks, and when areas such as the Carolinas become popular tourist destinations, as they have, there's more people entering the water. You're going to end up having more shark bites.

More From Animals
This photo from Discovery Channel shows a great hammerhead, one of the largest sharks in the world, during an episode of Shark Week.
TELEVISION
-------------------------------------------------------
North Carolina - 8th Victim

https://www.google.com/m?q=North+Carolina+Shark&client=ms-opera-mobile&channel=new&espv=1/

NEWS
MARINE INJURED IN 8TH SHARK ATTACK ALONG NORTH CAROLINA COAST

Marine injured in 8th shark attack along NC coast
A spokesman for the Naval Hospital at Camp Lejeune said victim was brought into the hospital Saturday night.

WTVD with the Associated Press
Updated 2 hrs 29 mins ago

SURF CITY, N.C. (WTVD) -- A Marine was injured over the weekend in the eighth shark attack along the North Carolina coast so far this season.

A spokesman for the Naval Hospital at Camp Lejeune said the victim was brought into the hospital late Saturday night.

The bite happened in Surf City. The 32-year-old Camp Lejeune Marine was treated for bites to forearm and right hand and was later released.

WWAY reported that Pender County Emergency Management and Surf City Police received no calls of shark bites in the area, so the location of the incident is unknown.

Seven other people have been attacked by sharks along the North Carolina coast in the past three weeks. The most recent was Wednesday when a 68-year-old man was injured off Ocracoke Island.

There have been 8 reported shark attacks at the North Carolina coast

Andrew Costello suffered wounds to his ribcage, lower leg, hip and both hands as he tried to fight off the animal, said Justin Gibbs, the director of emergency services in Hyde County. The attack happened around noon on a beach on Ocracoke Island, right in front of a lifeguard tower, he said.

Related story: Shark awareness tips

North Carolina has seen the most attacks in one year in the 80 years for which the Florida Museum of Natural History's International Shark Attack File keeps records. The highest previous total was five attacks in 2010. Three of the 52 confirmed shark attacks between 1935 and 2014 were deadly, according to the database.

Most of this year's attacks happened in shallow water. The injuries ranged widely: An 8-year-old boy had only minor wounds to his heel and ankle, while at least two others have required amputation.

Shark experts say the recent spate of attacks along on the coast of the Carolinas is due to so many more people getting in the water. Americans made 2.2 billion visits to beaches in 2010, up from 2 billion in 2001, according to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimate.

The record-breaking numbers of shark bites might be related to an unseasonably hot June that rapidly raised ocean temperatures off North Carolina and prompted fish to migrate north earlier than usual, said Chuck Bangley, a shark researcher at East Carolina University.

Roger Rulifson, a distinguished professor of biology and senior scientist at East Carolina University, said recently that there have been reports of small bait fish coming closer to shore this summer, which attracts sharks. There have also been reports of larger numbers of sea turtles along the coast, which sharks also like to eat, he said.

RELATED
Governor on shark bites: Dont swim near fishing areas
Governor on shark bites: Don't swim near fishing areas

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/theres-disturbing-reason-recent-surge-181700047.html/

There's an unstoppable reason for the recent surge in shark attacks

More than half a dozen shark attacks have happened in North Carolina in the last three weeks — nearly as many as happened all of last year.
Experts say this summer is brewing up something of a perfect storm for the attacks. But while they seem like they're everywhere, shark populations are actually dwindling.

And the real reason there have been so many attacks likely isn't because there are more sharks in the water — it's because there are more people swimming in it than ever before.

Shark expert George Burgess of the International Shark Attack File explained the trend in a recent NPR interview:

Shark populations in the US and around the world are at perhaps all-time lows. On the other hand, the human population continues to rise every year. We have no curbing of that.
And fundamentally [a] shark attack ... is driven by the number of humans in the water more than the number of sharks, and when areas such as the Carolinas become popular tourist destinations, as they have, there's more people entering the water. You're going to end up having more shark bites.
While a number of studies in recent decades have suggested that shark populations around the world are all declining sharply, it's hard for scientists to get exact numbers on them.

Nevertheless, by comparing recent population numbers with past data, we can get a general estimate of how sharks are doing across the globe, marine biologist and University of Miami graduate student David Shiffman explains in a recent post on his blog.

One frequently-cited survey of data published in 2003 from fisheries gathered between 1986 and 2000 suggests that shark populations are in deep trouble.

The data from that survey found that hammerhead populations were declining by an average of 89%; great whites by 79%; tiger sharks by 65%, thresher sharks by 80%, blue sharks by 60%, and mako sharks by 70%:


.shark declines chart

(Science/"Collapse and Conservation of Shark Populations in the Northwest Atlantic")
Declines in estimated relative abundance for coastal shark species:

(A) hammerhead
(B) white
(C) tiger
(D) coastal shark species
and oceanic shark species
(E) thresher
(F) blue
G) mako
(H) oceanic whitetip.

"We may never know exactly how many sharks are out there, or exactly how many are killed each year. What we do know, from a variety of different types of analysis, is that many species of sharks are decreasing in population at alarming rates," writes Shiffman.

Why are sharks in trouble?

While vigilante shark hunters can do significant damage to local shark populations, the real problem centers around two main activities: Hunting sharks for their meat and fins and irresponsible fishing practices. Each year, thousands of sharks are caught and trapped in fishing nets and other fishing gear.

And while it might seem like good news that there are less sharks around, it's actually a very big problem for the rest of us.

In many places, sharks are apex predators, meaning they occupy the spot right at the top of the food chain. If their populations aren't healthy and stable, it throws all of the other life in the oceans out of balance.

Plus, sharks have a bunch of characteristics that make them especially vulnerable to exploitation, including the fact that they live long lives, mature late in life, and have very few young.

http://m.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/shark-attacks-rise-or-overblown/nmsG7/

Shark attacks: On the rise or overblown?
11:16 a.m. EDT, Mon July 6, 2015

ATLANTA —

Emergency officials are warning beach goers to stay vigilant and keep an eye out for sharks.

Beaches in the Carolinas, a popular vacation destination for metro Atlantans, saw seven shark attacks in a two-week period. Florida reported several more attacks. Still, experts say shark attacks are not on the rise.

When you hear the word shark, you think of the big mouth, teeth gnashing, and the menacing grin - you think of Jaws. That is the great white shark.

Great whites were not responsible for the recent attacks off the East Coast. Experts believe those bites came from bull or tiger sharks, especially the attacks in North Carolina.

"I saw it first and the shock was like wow, I just got bit by a shark," said 16-year-old Hunter Treschl.

The Colorado teenager lost part of his arm last month when a shark bit him off the coast of Oak Island, North Carolina. It was the same day 12-year-old Kiersten Yow lost part of her arm in the waters off Oak Island.

"He yelled up and she told us there was a shark attack three blocks down and I got that chill up my spine," a witness said.

In June, three other children and one adult suffered bites along the North Carolina coast from the Outer Banks to Surf City. Some were minor, others much more serious.

Experts agree there have been a lot of attacks in a short period of time, but stress shark encounters are not on the rise.

"The sharks may be a little bit more active in the summertime, but the truth is, it's mostly from the increased number of people on the beach for the summer holidays," said Dr. Allistar Dove from the Georgia Aquarium.

Dove said there are 400 species of sharks, and he knows all of them. He said most aren’t interested in people and find them by accident.

"Sharks patrol the beach at this time of the year looking for food. They're mostly looking for fish. They're not looking for people," Dove said.

That's not the case with the great white shark. That species is responsible for the most reported unprovoked attacks on humans.

In April, Channel 2's Chief Meteorologist Glenn Burns got the opportunity to cage dive off the South African coast where the sharks are plentiful.

Despite the shark's reputation, Burns found them fascinating and not threatening. He said they were very curious of the boat and the cage, but were not aggressive.

Deadly shark attacks are rare. There are only seven a year worldwide.

As for attacks where the victims survive, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History, Florida reported 219 from 2005 until last year. North Carolina had only 25 over the same time frame.

It may not seem like it, but the number of attacks this year along the East Coast is about the same as last year, less than 20. None of the attacks have been deadly.

"You are about 700 times more likely to die of heatstroke than you are to be attacked by a shark," Dove said.

Dove stressed if you still are worried about sharks, stay out of the water at dusk, and don't swim near fishermen or piers where large school of fish may be. His best advice is don't worry at all.

"The chances of you having an encounter with a shark are less than the chances of you being struck by lightning. So go have a good day at the beach, enjoy yourself. Go in the water. Don't be afraid," he said.

Related
Sharks spotted off the Florida coast
SHARKS: What you need to know

12 Shark Attacks, North & South Carolina... & it is ONLY July

16 hours ago

http://www.cnbc.com/id/102818056/

Shark attacks off Carolinas aren't stopping vacationers

Ali Montag
16 Hours AgoCNBC.com
Shark attacks in North and South Carolina are not preventing people from vacationing on the states' beaches, local business owners say—though tourists may be thinking twice about diving into the water.

People help a 68-year-old shark-bite victim on Ocracoke Island, N.C., July 1, 2015.

People help a 68-year-old shark-bite victim on Ocracoke Island, N.C., July 1, 2015.

It's only July, but the Carolinas have already seen 12 shark attacks in 2015, compared with a normal average of four to six for the region in an entire year. To put that in further perspective, the entire country of Australia, which gets wide media attention for shark attacks, saw a total of 23 attacks in 2014. Five were fatal and 14 caused injury.

But none of that is keeping families away from places like the Outer Banks, Hilton Head or Myrtle Beach.
No one has canceled their summer reservations at Outer Banks Blue, a vacation home rental company in North Carolina, said owner Tim Cafferty. He's actually seen a spike in business.

"Over the last two weeks we've seen more last-minute rentals than we have in the last five years," Cafferty said. "It's really been ironic. I think people understand it's an isolated event, and that the chances are infinitesimally small."

Read More10 cities where vacation rental listings are booming
Cafferty added, however, that the attacks may be leading to greater customer traffic for inland businesses.

"I believe we've seen a better economic situation here, quite frankly, that people are doing other things besides going to the beach," he said. He's seen increased tourist attendance at the Wright Brothers National Memorial, para-sailing on the more enclosed "Soundside" waters, and ropes courses.


The Island Resort and Inn, a hotel off the beach in Oak Island, North Carolina, where two of the attacks have occurred, already has customers rebooking vacations for next year, said office manager Rose Dauphinais.

"I've been coming here since 1976, and this was the first shark attack I've ever heard of," she said, but added that "no one has canceled their trips."

"I'm a surfer myself. My nephew is in town with us working at the restaurant, and we go surfing as much as we can. We just make sure we're in a busy area and staying near life guards." -Donny King, owner, Ocean Boulevard Bistro and Martini Bar
That said, the attacks are serious— and unusual—said George Burgess, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research at the University of Florida.

"It's an all-time high for a yearly total. It's an unprecedented situation," he said. "This is just a slap in the face that we need to be more careful entering the sea."

Even with this year's unusually high number of attacks in the Carolinas, in context, there are more pressing dangers at the beach than sharks, Burgess said. The world saw only three known shark-attack fatalities in 2014. The last fatal shark attack in South Carolina was in 1852.

Burgess added that the number shark attacks is directly related to the number of people in the water.

"It's sort of a back-handed compliment to the chambers of commerce who are bringing that many people into the waters," he said. "The next step is development of beach safety personnel and services to reduce the risk of shark attacks on their beaches that are now drawing so many people."

Read MoreHow summer vacation can hit your Christmas budget

Tourism brought $21.3 billion to North Carolina in 2014, said Wit Tuttell, executive director of Visit North Carolina. Six and a half million people spent their time visiting North Carolina beaches in 2014, according to a survey from the organization.

This year's tourism season has yet to take a hit from the shark attacks, said Lee Nettles, executive director of the Outer Banks Visitors' Bureau. Nettles said his office has seen an increased number of concerned calls from visitors, but that people aren't canceling their trips.

"Clearly something extraordinary is going on, but the three shark encounters we've had in the Outer Banks are relative to the 5 million visitors annually," he said. "Three shark bites is three too many, but it's still a relatively safe environment."

At the Ocean Boulevard Bistro and Martini Bar in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, owner Donny King said he saw an uptick in business at his restaurant during the Fourth of July weekend. He's personally taking precautions, but he's not staying out of the water.

"I'm a surfer myself. My nephew is in town with us working at the restaurant, and we go surfing as much as we can," he said. "We just make sure we're in a busy area and staying near life guards."

CORRECTION: There were 23 shark attacks reported in Australia in 2014. That fact was misstated in an earlier version of this article.


* There has been at least 23 in USA waters including Hawaii. (Strange how I can NOT find a total) 11 just in North Carolina & another one recently in The Bahamas (on You Tube)*

The sharks are here to audition for the SYFY movie "Sharknado 4".

It seem like a shark problem. When I swim in the ocean I see these little fish going crazy and jumping out of the water rapidly. So I immediately start moving in the opposite direction towards shore.

Last summer I saw about 20 dolphins heading south and thought that was strange.

Who knows? I'm probably a little paranoid after Sharknado.

I live near a area that has seen numerous shark bites.Here in Myrtle Beach we have had several close calls, the weather was hotter then normal this year and the water heated up early so the schools of fish are closer to shore and the sharks follow them in. People need to be extra careful in these areas this year.

Especially if Ian Ziering is anywhere near and is carrying a chain saw.

...shark bites...all animals bites...(*^___^*“)

When it comes to shark attacks, the sky is the limit ... or is it?