FWC PUTS SHARK ATTACKS INTO PERSPECTIVE

July 19, 2001

CONTACT: George Burgess (352) 392-2360

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

has received numerous telephone calls inquiring about the safety

of swimming in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico after

several recent shark attacks, and officials want to put the attacks

into perspective.

"Shark attacks are relatively rare, considering that millions of

people swim, surf, scuba dive, fish or boat in Florida waters each

year," said George H. Burgess, director of the International Shark

Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville.

"Your actual chances of being bitten by a shark are small. That

relative risk is small when compared to attacks on humans by

bees, wasps or snakes, lightning strikes or other natural dangers.

In fact, more people are injured on land while traveling to and from

the beach than by sharks in the water."

Almost all shark bites that have occurred in Florida are of the "hit-

and-run" variety in which a small to medium-sized shark mistakes a

person's hand or foot for a fish in the water, and once a shark

realizes it wasn't what it was looking for, it swims away. The kind

of serious attack that occurred recently in Pensacola is rare in

Florida waters.

"Florida has a huge number of people in the water and the

number of person-hours in the water is probably higher than

anywhere else in the world," said Dr. Robert Hueter, director of the

Center for Shark Research at the Mote Marine Laboratory in

Sarasota. "Florida also has a tremendously long coastline with

tropical waters, a huge native population and an increasing tourist

population."

Hueter said sharks do not target humans. If a shark bites a

human, it is because the shark has mistaken it for one of its natural

food sources such as a fish or stingray. Most attacks occur in

shallow water, typically inside of beach sandbars where sharks

may be confined by low tide. Sharks also may gather along steep

drop-offs, near channels or at river mouths, because their natural

food items congregate in these areas.

"The actual likelihood of being attacked by a shark is remote,"

said Dr. John Carlson, a National Marine Fisheries Service shark

biologist in Panama City. "However, it's a good idea to take

precautions when you swim in the ocean, such as avoiding

swimming during periods of low light when sharks are more active,

and avoid wearing shiny jewelry or brightly contrasting colors. And

if you are in the water when a shark is sighted, quickly but calmly

leave the water."

Some other tips to avoid shark interactions in the summertime while

swimming in the ocean are:

Avoid swimming at dusk, dawn or at night between the hours of 6

p.m. and 8 a.m., when sharks are more active and cannot see

their natural prey as well.

Swim, dive or surf with other people * never alone. Avoid

swimming off boats offshore.

Avoid swimming between sandbars, near steep drop-offs, near

channels or at river mouths where sharks are frequently found.

Keep pets and domestic animals out of the water.

Avoid swimming in waters that are murky or turbid, as the reduced

visibility may cause a shark to confuse a swimmer with its natural

food source.

Don't swim near people who are fishing or spearfishing, or near

sewage outfalls.

If schooling fish start to behave erratically or congregate in large

numbers, leave the area.

If a shark is seen near a swimming area, calmly leave the water,

notify the lifeguard and allow the shark to pass by.

"A shark attack is a possible hazard that must be considered by

anyone swimming in the ocean," Burgess said. "As in any activity,

a participant must acknowledge that there are certain risks

involved. Swimming in the ocean has its inherent risks as well,

and a shark attack is simply one of the many that must be

considered before entering the water. Most shark experts agree,

however, that there is an extremely slim chance of even

encountering a shark, much less being attacked.

"Although the chance of being attacked by a shark is small, if you

do find yourself in a shark's jaws, the best thing to do is kick,

punch or try to jab the shark in the eyes or gills," Burgess said.

"Sharks respect size and power. Whether that is kicking or

beating on the animal, those are things the shark understands and

respects."

For more information on sharks visit the International Shark Attack

File Web site at www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Sharks/ISAF/ISAF.htm or

the Mote Marine Laboratory at http://www.mote.org .