2015 sets record for most shark attacks, with 98 worldwide

[webfact]

2015 sets record for most shark attacks, with 98 worldwide

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Experts say 2015 saw a record-setting 98 unprovoked shark attacks worldwide, including 30 in Florida alone.

The Florida Museum of Natural History released the numbers Monday. Scientists say the previous record was 88 attacks in 2000.

International Shark Attack File curator George Burgess says attacks are expected to continue to increase as human populations grow and shark populations recover.

Of the six fatalities last year, two happened off the Indian Ocean island of Reunion; the others occurred off Australia, Egypt, New Caledonia and the United States.

The U.S. led the world with 59 attacks, including those in Florida, eight in each of the Carolinas and seven in Hawaii. California and Texas each had two attacks, and New York and Mississippi each had one.

Australia and South Africa followed the U.S. with 18 and 8 attacks, respectively.


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-02-09

[Dap]

Revenge?

[wabothai]

Number of nitwits is on the rise.

[neverdie]

Why would anyone want to attack a shark?

[Krataiboy]

What on earth do they mean by "unprovoked" attacks? I mean, how do you provoke a shark - thumb your nose at it while having a paddle? Stick up the middle finger as a giant white cruises by? Come on!

Blaming a shark for doing its job as a prime predator is a bit like condemning your cat for chasing and killing a mouse. It's their nature and if we don't know it now then education is a waste of time and Jaws 1 and II were box office flops. Like the mouse, it is our job to protect ourselves from predators when in their hunting grounds.

Sharks have been around, in one form of another, for millions of years and have much to teach homo sapiens, who have driven thousands of animal species to extinction, about the art of survival.

They don't deserve to be demonised by the mass media and Hollywood or decimated to satisfy the culinary whims of the wealthy food perverts who love these truly remarkable and beautiful animals only for their fins.

Edited February 10, 2016 by Krataiboy

[petermik]

Many sharks in the Pattaya streets at this moment

[Chicog]

From what I've read, the systematic plundering of their food source has caused them to come closer to shore in search of food, too.

[thaibeachlovers]

Unprovoked!!!!!!!!! How many million sharks have been killed by humans for a measly few humans by sharks? Shame on all that eat shark fin soup.