USA TODAY US Edition

Fewer sharks, more caution may be cause of fewer bites

- Dinah Voyles Pulver

Despite New York having a recordbrea­king eight shark bites along its beaches last year, shark bites dropped again worldwide.

Fifty-seven unprovoked bites were reported in 2022, most in the United States and Australia, the Florida Museum of Natural History’s Florida Program for Shark Research announced Monday in its annual report. That ties 2020 for the lowest since 2008. The 10year average is 74.

Two things may account for the fewer bites and fewer fatal bites, said Gavin Naylor, the research program director.

“Generally speaking, the number of sharks in the world’s oceans has decreased, which may have contribute­d to recent lulls,” Naylor said. It’s also likely fatalities are down “because some areas have recently implemente­d rigorous beach safety protocols, especially in Australia.”

Florida, with its 825 miles of sandy beaches, again led with 16 unprovoked bites, according to the program’s Internatio­nal Shark Attack File.

The program researches reported shark bites, focusing on unprovoked bites rather than bites that occur when sharks are either intentiona­lly or unintentio­nally provoked, such as being snagged by a fishing hook.

Where did fatal shark attacks occur?

Only five fatal shark attacks were reported in 2022, down from nine in 2021 and 10 in 2020.

The U.S. had one unprovoked fatality. Kristine Allen, 60, of Bellingham, Washington, went missing in December while snorkeling with her husband, Blake, off Keawakapu Beach in Maui, Hawaii, the Associated Press reported. Witnesses reported seeing a 10- to 12-foot shark, believed to be a tiger shark, in the area, according to the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Elsewhere, two fatal attacks occurred on the same day in Egypt’s Red Sea and two fatal attacks took place in South Africa.

Australia had nine shark bites. Single bites were reported in New Zealand, Thailand and Brazil.

What’s behind New York’s record shark bites?

The majority of the bites in Long Island were probably sand tiger sharks attracted by an influx of baitfish, Naylor said.

“The Gulf Stream’s eddies ebb and flow each year. Sometimes they can come very close to shore, bringing nutrients and fish with them,” he said. “The juvenile sand tigers will follow the fish, which in some cases leads to an uptick in encounters with people.”

A 2016 study showed juvenile sand tiger sharks had taken up residence in Great South Bay, New York – between Fire Island and Long Island – and sharks continue to use the sheltered bay as a nursery.

“Juveniles tend to be more experiment­al and will try things that an adult shark wouldn’t,” Naylor said. “If fish are especially dense where people are swimming and visibility is poor, then it is more likely that young sharks, which lack the experience of older animals, will mistake a swimmer’s foot for their intended prey.”

 ?? GETTY IMAGES ?? Bull sharks such as this one are sometimes the culprit in shark bites.
GETTY IMAGES Bull sharks such as this one are sometimes the culprit in shark bites.

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