Sharks – an ‘apex’ predator are found ‘in just about every kind of ocean habitat, including the deep sea, open ocean, coral reefs, and under the Arctic ice ( according to Smithsonian ).
With summer in full swing, with more families enjoying the beach and sea, unsurprisingly more likely contact between people and sharks….
Only yesterday, the Department of Conservation in New Zealand issued this warning –
“Please be extra vigilant. There are always sharks around our coastline and at times they may come close to the shore,” DOC marine technical advisor Clinton Duffy said in a bstatement. He says there have been several sightings of Great White sharks in Tauranga recently.
“It is not unusual for them to be there, however, when we’re visiting the ocean, we need to be a little bit vigilant and aware of what’s happening around us.”
“Swim where there are surf life-saving patrols, and don’t swim or dive alone.”
DOC advises those who are heading out in Tauranga Harbour over the long weekend to exercise caution and avoid swimming in the main channels.”
A woman died very sadly of a possible shark attack very recently – The Guardian
For many years, I lived in Tauranga and never recall a seeing a shark. Orca yes ; shark no.
Certainly – climate change is having some impact on people encountering sharks – according to TIME
“ Shark attacks are on the rise in the U.S.—but it’s not because sharks are getting fiercer. The increase in attacks—59 last year, up from 31 in 2011—is connected to climate change, experts say. According to a study by Progress in Oceanography, climate change is pushing sharks and other marine species northward. At the same time, warm weather means people are more likely go swimming, a potentially fatal combination. According to the Florida Program for Shark Research, seven people have died from shark attacks since 2005.
“Each year we should have more attacks than the last because there’s more humans entering the water, and more hours spent in the water,” said George Burgess, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research. “What you see is more of a human activity than a shark activity.”
Shark attacks
Australia statistics
New Zealand statistics
Over the past 170 years, there have only been 13 fatal shark attacks documented in New Zealand, according to the country’s department of conservation ( Department of Conservation NZ )
A number of reasons could be given for the differences in numbers above – there are more people in Australia, for starters.
Sharks get an unfair bad – discussed in previous posts reputation – and as well, I would argue that they ( sharks ) have far more to fear from human activities including hunting for shark fin soup , than us from them! Regardless, let’s be safe out there!
