NcDeuce
01-28-2004, 02:00 PM
Shark Attacks Drop 30 Percent Worldwide
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The number of shark attacks worldwide has dropped 30 percent over the past three years, which is good news for surfers but possibly bad news for sharks.
George Burgess, director of the International Shark Attack File at UF's Museum of Natural History, said the decline in shark attacks is caused by a worldwide decline in their number.
The number of attacks dropped for the third year in a row, with 55 unprovoked attacks reported last year. There were 79 reported attacks in 2000, 68 in 2001 and 63 reported attacks in 2002.
"It's beginning to signal to us a little bit that maybe there is something happening here," Burgess said, who added that three consecutive years of dropping rates is significant.
Four people were killed in attacks on 2003, compared with three in 2002 and four in 2001. All were much lower than the 11 fatalities in 2000.
Fatalities occurred in Australia, California, Fiji and South Africa.
A total of 36 attacks, or 65 percent, occurred in North American waters, including 35 from the continental United States and one in the Virgin Islands.
Florida had the largest number of attacks with 31. Volusia County had the most attacks in the state with 14, down from 18 in 2002 and 22 in 2001. Most of those attacks occurred at New Smyrna Beach, an area popular with surfers.
Other counties having shark attacks in 2003 were Brevard, 8; St. Johns, 3; Martin, 2; Palm Beach, 2; Miami-Dade, 1, and St. Lucie, 1.
Surfers and windsurfers were the recreational group most often subjected to shark attack in 2003, with 29 cases, or 54 percent of the attacks.
Burgess attributes part of the decline to an increase of shark fishing.
On the East Coast, some shark species have seen a 40 percent to 50 percent drop in population in the past 15 years, Burgess said. A few shark populations have declined as much as 70 percent.
Another factor may be caused by the economic downturn leaving fewer people able to afford beach vacations.
In addition, people seem to be heeding simple advice: stay away from sharks.
Swimmers shouldn't go into the ocean if sharks have been spotted recently, Burgess said. He also cautioned against swimming in the ocean at dawn and dusk, when sharks are feeding and are most active. In addition, Burgess said swimmers should avoid places where shark are likely to be found, such as inlets, channels and the troughs between sand bars.
More swimmers are realizing that they have to coexist with sharks, he said.
"It's not like jumping into the YMCA pool. You're jumping into a foreign environment," he said. "You wouldn't think about going to Africa and not worrying about the lions and leopards and water buffalo."
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The number of shark attacks worldwide has dropped 30 percent over the past three years, which is good news for surfers but possibly bad news for sharks.
George Burgess, director of the International Shark Attack File at UF's Museum of Natural History, said the decline in shark attacks is caused by a worldwide decline in their number.
The number of attacks dropped for the third year in a row, with 55 unprovoked attacks reported last year. There were 79 reported attacks in 2000, 68 in 2001 and 63 reported attacks in 2002.
"It's beginning to signal to us a little bit that maybe there is something happening here," Burgess said, who added that three consecutive years of dropping rates is significant.
Four people were killed in attacks on 2003, compared with three in 2002 and four in 2001. All were much lower than the 11 fatalities in 2000.
Fatalities occurred in Australia, California, Fiji and South Africa.
A total of 36 attacks, or 65 percent, occurred in North American waters, including 35 from the continental United States and one in the Virgin Islands.
Florida had the largest number of attacks with 31. Volusia County had the most attacks in the state with 14, down from 18 in 2002 and 22 in 2001. Most of those attacks occurred at New Smyrna Beach, an area popular with surfers.
Other counties having shark attacks in 2003 were Brevard, 8; St. Johns, 3; Martin, 2; Palm Beach, 2; Miami-Dade, 1, and St. Lucie, 1.
Surfers and windsurfers were the recreational group most often subjected to shark attack in 2003, with 29 cases, or 54 percent of the attacks.
Burgess attributes part of the decline to an increase of shark fishing.
On the East Coast, some shark species have seen a 40 percent to 50 percent drop in population in the past 15 years, Burgess said. A few shark populations have declined as much as 70 percent.
Another factor may be caused by the economic downturn leaving fewer people able to afford beach vacations.
In addition, people seem to be heeding simple advice: stay away from sharks.
Swimmers shouldn't go into the ocean if sharks have been spotted recently, Burgess said. He also cautioned against swimming in the ocean at dawn and dusk, when sharks are feeding and are most active. In addition, Burgess said swimmers should avoid places where shark are likely to be found, such as inlets, channels and the troughs between sand bars.
More swimmers are realizing that they have to coexist with sharks, he said.
"It's not like jumping into the YMCA pool. You're jumping into a foreign environment," he said. "You wouldn't think about going to Africa and not worrying about the lions and leopards and water buffalo."