Where in the World Do Shark Attacks Happen?

Where Shark Attacks Happen?
Close your eyes. Imagine the caress of warm sunrays on your face, the wind in your hair, the saltwater on your lips and the cool water surrounding you. Heaven? For most people it is but for shark attack survivors it was the last peaceful memory the last one they had before they faced what they thought was certain death!

While movies make shark attacks look like sharks are on a feeding frenzy, nonetheless, they do happen although mostly for different reasons such as confusion or when feeling threatened. Where in the world do shark attacks happen?

Well, the main areas where shark attacks have occurred over the years until 2005 according to the ISAF (International Shark Attack File) are: United States of America (continental), England, Asia, Australia, the Pacific Island, Hawaii, the Antilles, the Bahamas, Costa Rica, Mexico, Africa, South America and New Zealand.

What are the statistics for shark attacks in these areas? In the continental U.S., the statistics are representing the registered shark attacks since the first fatality which was in 1883 in South Carolina up to 2005 which was in Florida. A total of 234 shark attacks have been registered, 7 of them have resulted in fatalities. The states that have had victims in their waters are: Florida, California, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Alabama, Oregon, Georgia, Virginia and New Jersey. Shark attacks also have happened in the Open Ocean which is under the law enforcement of the U.S.A. Hawaii has recorded 23 shark attacks, the last fatality being in 2004.

Mexico has recorded 3 shark attacks, two being fatalities. The last fatality happened in 1997. Costa Rica has recorded 2 shark attacks and the last fatality was in 1964. The Antilles have recorded a total of 4 shark attacks, 2 in Cuba where there last fatality was in 1945, 1 in the Virgin Islands which also had their last fatality in 1972 and 1 in St.Martin.

South America has 3 countries that recorded shark attacks from 2000 to 2005 which totaled 22 of them. Brazil alone has a total of 18 and 1 fatality which happened in 2004. Ecuador has recorded 2 shark attacks and Venezuela has 2 as well and their last fatality occurred in 1971.

England recorded 1 shark attack between 2000 and 2005 with their last fatality being in 1968. Africa has recorded 32 shark attacks during this period, 8 resulting in fatalities. The leader of the pack is South Africa with 21 shark attacks, 2 fatalities, and the last one in 2004. Then you have the Mascarene Islands with 5 shark attacks, 1 fatality, the last one being in 1999. Tanzania recorded 3 shark attacks, 3 fatalities and the last one being in 2000. Madagascar had 1 shark attack and the last fatality was in 1955. And you have Cape Verde with 1 shark attack and the last fatality was in 2001. Finally, there is Egypt with 1 shark attack and 1 fatality which happened in 2004.

Asia has recorded 4 shark attacks with 2 fatalities. Both Japan and Thailand had 1 shark attack and 1 fatality, the last one being in 2000. India had 1 shark attack, the last fatality being in 1956. And South Korea had 1 shark attack as well with no fatal shark attacks.

Shark attacks around Australia for that same period had 47 recorded, 9 fatal shark attacks, the last fatality being in 2005. New Zealand had 1 shark attack during this time and the last fatality was in 1968.

And finally, you have the Pacific Islands which recorded 12 shark attacks and 4 fatal shark attacks. Papua New Guinea 3 shark attacks, 1 fatality and their last one being in 2000. Fiji Islands have recorded 4 shark attacks, 2 fatal shark attacks and the last fatality was in 2003. Marshall Islands recorded 2 shark attacks with no fatalities. Vanuatu recorded 1 shark attack with 1 fatality which happened in 2005. Kiribati recorded 1 shark attack with no fatalities. And Solomon Islands have recorded 1 shark attack with no fatal shark attacks between 2000 and 2005, the last fatality being in 1963.

As you can see, while a lot of people heard rumors about the high possibilities about being victim of a South African shark attack, there is no place in the world that can guarantee you that you will not become one of the stats. I know that a lot of people say that numbers and stats speak volume but still, why take a chance? Just take the recommended safety measures seriously and use them. More than likely you will be able to enjoy swimming, surfing and doing other water activities in seas and oceans without a hitch. Never take anything for granted or think that these things only happened to others. In the same breath, take into consideration the population on this planet and the average of 58 shark attacks a year and compare it to the 100 million sharks that are hunted, slaughtered died in a fishing net and you can ask yourself a question: "Who is the most likely to become victim of the other?"

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sylvie_Leochko

Why Do Sharks Attack Humans?

Sharks Attack Humans

Contrary to popular belief, sharks do not make a conscious effort to attack humans. In fact, there aren't nearly as many attacks as you would think. More people die from being struck by lightning every year than from shark attacks. The year 2000 had the highest number of recorded shark attacks, and even then it was only a total of 79 worldwide. Most of them occurred on the coasts of the United States, and only 16 of them proved to be fatal. On average, only about 4 people in the entire world die from shark attack related injuries each year. The location with the highest number of attacks is New Smyrna Beach, in Florida, USA.

The fear of sharks is a common one, not helped by fear-inducing movies like Jaws, Deep Blue Sea, and Red Water. However, while there are over 360 species of shark, only 4 have been known to attack a human unprovoked. Those dangerous few are the Great White, Tiger, Bull and Oceanic White Tip Sharks. The majority of the attacks by the first three species mentioned are well documented, however, since the oceanic white tip stays in the deep ocean doesn't come near the coast like the others, fewer attacks by them have been recorded. Recent studies have shown that they are unlikely to attack unprovoked, however a number of attacks were attributed to the oceanic white tip during the two World Wars, when a great deal of ships were destroyed while at sea. While the four aforementioned species account for a significant number of all shark attacks, there have been a few others that have caused injury to humans.

There are a number of different kinds of shark attacks. The first one is the "Hit and Run"; when the shark bites and then leaves. This is actually a common practice among sharks - these bites are known as "exploratory bites". Sharks rarely attack a human specifically for food, as humans don't have the right amount of fat composition they need to sustain their strong, muscular bodies. Sharks are also unable to feel hungry, and can in fact go months without eating. The second form of attack is often fatal, and occurs most often in deep water. It is known as the "Sneak Attack". The "Bump and Bite" is another attack style used by sharks. They brush up against their prey to incapacitate it before going in for a strike. Often times a mere bump from these strong animals can cause serious damage to a human.
To avoid potential injury form an aggressive target, sharks often circle their wary prey and then go in for one swift attack; returning once it has exhausted itself or died from the inflicted injury. While this may work for a shark's traditional prey, this tactic often gives humans a chance to get out of the water and survive the attack. These creatures are also extremely territorial, and being in the wrong place at the wrong time, such as when a battle of dominance between or within a species is occurring, can invite an attack.

Sharks are equipped with a number of specialized sensory organs, and knowing what they are and what they do can help prevent accidental attacks. Sharks are equipped with an organ known as the Ampullae of Lorenzini that is able to detect electrical impulses as small as the ones generated by a human or animal's muscle movement. This helps them locate their prey across far distances. Some sharks, most notably the Great White, are also able to smell blood in water - as little as a drop or two from over a mile away.
While you cannot completely eliminate the risk of a shark attack while in shark infested water, there are some precautions that can be taken to lessen the chances.

1. Avoid being in the water at dusk and dawn, when sharks tend to feed, and at night. Sharks have excellent sight at night and are more likely to mistake a human for prey in the dark.

2. Most species of shark prefer dark, murky waters and steep drop offs, so avoid those areas when possible.

3. Since some species are highly sensitive to the presence of blood and can attack without precedence when they find it, avoid bleeding when in open water. People with open wounds, and women on their menstrual cycle should not go into open water.

4. Stay in large groups, and when possible stick to the middle. Never swim alone.

5. Take written and verbal warnings seriously, especially from lifeguards and other professionals.

6. USE COMMON SENSE. Never forget that all sharks, even those thought to be harmless, are by nature wild animals. You never know for certain how they will react when presented with different situations. Be careful.

7. USE YOUR INSTINCTS. If you don't feel right being in the water, get out immediately. Don't doubt yourself. It's better to be safe, and wait for another chance, than to be sorry and regret that you didn't follow your instincts.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Anthony_Harris

Shark Attack! Some True Facts

Shark Attack

A shark attack is sudden, violent and often deadly. A shark attack will always make the TV news and our fear of sharks, has been exploited by many popular books and movies.

But is this fear for sharks deserved? Here are some basic facts.

• Sharks kill fewer than five humans each year (elephants kill more than 100).

• Humans kill more than 100 million sharks each year (10,000 per hour).

• Sharks have been on this planet for 450 million years but in the last of couple of decades, their numbers have been reduced by over 90%.

Sharks are being hunted and killed at a devastating rate. Most fisheries targeting sharks are illegal. The sharks are caught by ships using long lines with baited hooks, their fins are removed and their bodies are tossed back into the sea. The dried fins can fetch up to $300 per pound. But, this is a gold rush quickly coming to an end. Shark numbers are down everywhere.

But, maybe sharks are the enemy. They hunt and kill us, don't they? This is not true. Last year, of the almost 7 billion people on earth, only one was killed by a shark. And think of the millions and millions of people who have swam in the ocean, went scuba diving on reefs and surfed on hundreds of beaches.

Sharks play a very important role in the eco-system of the oceans and 80% of life on this planet is in the ocean. Sharks have remained relatively unchanged for hundreds of millions of years and fill the very important role of "top predator". It is argued that all other species of fish in the ocean have evolved to be what they are because of the top position held by sharks.

If we allow the impending extinction of sharks, we will have to face the profound changes to ocean's cycles of life that will surely follow.

Rocky Boschman is a marine biologist and founder of Scuble.com. - http://scuble.com/ - He has been actively promoting conservation for many years. Scuble.com is an online community and a great resource for information about the oceans. Join now, its free.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rocky_Boschman