Shark

Two reports submitted to the Shark Research Committee website in the last week suggest there may be a bit of increased shark action in the waters near San Diego.

On Thursday May 13, 2010 around 1:15 PM surfer Mary Baker was waiting for some waves a bit outside the lineup at La Jolla Shores when she say a fin turn and head toward her.

“I looked outside and about 100 feet from me I saw the large triangle black fin, about 18 inches high, heading my way,” Baker said. “I moved South and inside to get my friend out. I surf everyday and know the difference between marine animals. This was a large triangle fin heading straight at me. Not a dolphin, seal or a bird. It was a black large triangle fin.”

Four days early on May 9, 2010 at about 5 PM surfer Brian Monroe was out at Ocean Beach when he saw a shark acting aggressively near a Grey Whale.

“I saw a large dark grey dorsal fin, 18 – 24 inches high, and splashing directly next to a Grey Whale ( Eschrichtius robustus) that had its back elevated out of the water,” he said. “I quickly paddled to shore and observed what appeared to be two whales, one large and one small, being repeatedly pursued by a large dark grey dorsal fin traveling along the surface. The shark appeared to be acting in an aggressive manner.”

And then there is the Great White reportedly spotted at San Onofre near the power plant . . . sounds like a similar men in a gray suits, no?

[Link: Shark Research Committee via Surfline]

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Jim Rowlinson was surfing at the Point at Hanalei Bay, on the north shore of Kaua’i around 4 PM on Monday, April 19, 2010 when he said he saw the water boil. Seconds later a shark took a bite out of Rowlinson’s blue longboards, according to a story in the The Garden Island.

Based on the teethmarks embedded in the board, marine biologist Terry Lilley of Save Our Seas said the shark was likely 14 feet long. He estimated this based off the base of the tooth measuring 1.25 inches. . . Lilley said the shark involved in this incident was likely chasing after a turtle when it mistakenly bit the surfboard. He said Rowlinson noted he saw a “yellow flash,” which could have been the underside of a turtle, just before the shark bit his board.

The best part about longboards is the nose and tail are a long ways from where you’re sitting. Especially when the sharks hit.

[Link: The Garden Island]

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Brendan Denton, 35, was surfing at South Africa’s East Beach in the southeastern town of Port Alfred on Tuesday, April 13, 2010, when he felt something “pulling him underwater” according to a story on Africasia.com.

“He thought it might be his friend playing the fool with him,” police captain Mali Govender told Sapa. . . The second time it happened, Denton turned around and saw his feet in the shark’s jaws, Govender said. . . Denton wrestled with the shark and managed to get back on his surfboard and paddle to safety, she said.

Denton escaped with “serious injuries” and his life.

[Link: Africasia.com]

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While the total number of shark attacks worldwide increased from 60 to 61 between 2008 and 2009 the number of attacks in the United States have dropped from 50 in 2007 to only 28 in 2009, according to a story in the Palm Beach Post. That’s the good news.

Worldwide, George Burgess, director of the International Shark Attack File at University of Florida said, more than half of the people who suffered shark attacks last year were surfers. . . Despite the decline over the past few years, Burgess says the number of shark attacks has risen to unprecedented levels over the past decade. . . “As scientists we don’t get so excited about individual years and tend to look at things in terms of decades,” Burgess said.

“Unprecedented levels” doesn’t sound so good. . . neither does Burgess getting “too excited.”

[Link: Palm Beach Post and International Shark Attack File]

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Maui’s Ho’okipa Beach Park was closed for two hours yesterday after a 12-foot-long Tiger shark was spotted about 150 yards from the break according to a story in the Honolulu Advertiser.

Ho’okipa, a popular surfing spot, was closed from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for one mile both north and south of the surfing reef. . . The beach park remained open. . . Warning signs were posted in the area, and no injuries were reported.

Wonder if it was the same one Mark Healey spotted earlier this month?

[Link: Honolulu Advertiser]

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Mona Vale, Australia surfer Paul Welsh, 46, was “having a surf” with his young son at Basin Bay when “a small shark” hit him from below, according to a story on Stuff.co.nz.

He made it out of the water and his wife drove him to Mona Vale Hospital, where he is recovering well, a NSW Health spokesman said. . . “He’ll be out of hospital by the end of the day.” . . “I was pushing my son on to waves and it just belted [me],” the man told the paper. “I grabbed on to the pinnacle of a rock and held on as it tried to drag me out … and I won.” . . .The victim has signed an exclusive deal with Channel Nine, a NSW Health spokeswoman said.

Exclusive deal? Guess if you’re going to be news you might as well get paid for it.

[Link: Stuff.co.nz]

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When Australian surfer Ashley Ramage heard his son Damon yell, “Dad!” while the two were out sufing at Archie’s Beach (near Bundaberg, Queensland) he knew something was up, according to a story in the News Mail.

“The way he said it, I just new something was wrong,” Mr Ramage said. . . “I turned around to look at him and saw this big grey shape and a fin come out of the water at me.” . . Mr Ramage said what he believes was a silky shark smashed into the back of his surfboard. . . “I was pretty lucky to get a warning. Damon yelling gave me enough time to lift my feet out of the water,” he said.

Luckily, neither surfer was injured in the attack. One more reminder that it’s always good to have a wingman.

[Link: News Mail]

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Tagged Great Whites in Australia are now set up to automatically send text messages to lifeguards and emergency personnel, according to a story in The Daily Mail.

As the man-eating predators approach shallower waters, the signal they emit will be picked up by a satellite receiver. Minutes later, a text message or email is sent out to scientists, wildlife officials and lifeguards. . . The tracking system set up around Perth in Western Australia is revolutionary because it will track the sharks in ‘real time’, said Rory McAuley a senior scientist with the West Australian Department of Fisheries.

Hopefully, they’re just remove one link for the communication chain and allow surfers to sign up for the messages themselves.

[Link: The Daily Mail]

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South African beach goers reportedly “watched in horror yesterday as a lifeguard at the Wild Coast was pulled off his paddling board by a shark and mauled to death” according to a story on Dispatch Online.

As the 22-year-old disappeared beneath the water of Port St Johns’ Second Beach, the ocean turned red. . . His remains have yet to be found. The victim’s name has been withheld until officials inform his family. . . He becomes the fourth person to die from the jaws of a shark at the same beach in two years. . . Witnesses I spoke to said they saw his hands in the air for a short while before his whole body disappeared under the water and a red pool of blood was seen on the surface. Only his kneeboard washed ashore,” said Costello.

[Link: Dispatch Online via LA Times]

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