Shark threat or no? You decide

[Diving Italy]

So I wake up this morning to two different stories in my inbox. One is telling me that the waters are all clear for some shark bite free diving and the other tells me that I'm doomed.

What do you think?

Shark free diving:

Number of US Shark attacks drops in 2009

Your doomed:

Shark Attacks, Resulting Human Deaths on the Rise : Discovery News

We report - you decide.

[idocsteve]

I don't see the contradiction between the two articles, in fact they both quote the SAME statistics.

Worldwide shark attacks are up, US shark attacks are down, presumably due to less people going to the beach because of the recession.

If you interpret the data properly, the danger of shark attacks is statistically insignificantly different from last year.

[lulubelle]

I don't find these statistics meaningful, as the vast majority of attacks were on surfers, swimmers, etc. Folks that might look like dinner to a shark. Scuba diving is mentioned only as a footnote.

[Wantonmien]

Interesting to see almost no shark attacks reported anywhere in Asia for years ... ?

Wonder if the figures are accurate or if there is just a lack of feedback from Asia ?

[Diving Italy]

I thought the bend of the two articles was interesting. One says "Shark attacks are down" and the other says "Shark atacks resulting human deaths on the rise".

So you are saying that my chances of being bitten are less but when/if I do get bitten I have a greater chance of dying?

Interesting.

[diversteve]

fwiw, more people are killed here by vending machines (pulling it over onto themselves in anger) than are killed by sharks.
Are Vending Machines Deadlier than Sharks?

[Walter]

Interesting to see almost no shark attacks reported anywhere in Asia for years ... ?

Wonder if the figures are accurate or if there is just a lack of feedback from Asia ?

The answer is B.

[Crowley]

I agree with Walter, there is less feedback from Asia...

possibly the reason is partly to do with cultural philosophy in that if somebody is attacked by a shark in waters where sharks live then that is all just part of life. Also, while they are probably reported locally, the don't make the press in the West (or Australia, for that matter). If a bull shark kills a person in the Ganges (which happens occaisionally), we're unlikely to hear about it in Europe or America or wherever unless it was a European or American tourist that was involved. How often do you read reports of people being killed by Hippos, which are much more freqent than shark attacks? You can bet your bottom dollar/euro/pound that if a hippo at london zoo stomped on somebody it would be national news in 27 countries.

Some of the species we like to think are responsible for attacks - such as the great white - are entirely absent from asian waters; the oceanic white tip should be there, but strangely seems to be missing from large parts of the asia-pacific region, although tigers and bulls are all over the place.

I will offer one reason why shark attacks are on the decline - which is that since the early 20th century, there were many, many, many more sharks in the ocean than there are today. That is a much more sombre reason than a few unlucky souls who were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Love the sharks, before they're all gone.

C.

[LIVES4SHARKS]

There are still plenty of sharks in the water and swimmers and boarders need to be aware of their presence. It is their home. The news will sensationalize anything out of the norm so I really don't pay attention to the boob-tube drama. With sharks being slaughtered by the millions, there may be nothing to fear in the future since they will all be gone.

On a side note, IdocSteve, your avatar rocks! I am glad I wasn't drinking anything when I opened this post!

Carolyn

[PatW]

Well, I live right near the shark attack capital of the world: New Smyrna Beach, FL. The sharks there are not very big. They chase bait fish through turbid waters and run into swimmers, bathers, and surfers with their mouths open so they bite. They probably swim away with a nasty taste in their mouth from the sun tan lotion. The bites are jagged and nasty requiring bunches of stiches. But the bites are not life threatening. I have seen aerial photos taken above the beach and the sharks are stacked up there like you wouldn't believe. If these sharks made deliberate attacks, we would have dozens of attacks daily.