Shark Attacks A Media Hype or a Management

Shark Attacks: A Media Hype or a Management Concern? Doug Piatkowski

Apex Predators § Essential for balance of aquatic food chain § Acute predatory senses Efficient Predators - Ampullae of Lorenzini, Smell (detect blood – 1 part per million), Sound (600 yards away), Lateral Line (vibration sensitive hair cells) § Jaws - Upper jaw slides forward and lower jaw drops - Pressure of 2, 000 lbs. per sq. in.

Problems § Populations declined up to 80% since 70’s § Hunted for sport and commercially § International trade of shark fins “Shark Fin Soup” - Global trade of shark fins - >7, 000 tons of fins/year § Souvenirs – jaws and teeth § Slow Growth, late maturity, and low reproductive potential § Human Fear – lack of compassion and protection

Recent Attacks § July 6, 2001 -Jessie Arbogast -Horrifying attack by a Bull Shark -Biggest media hyped shark attack since 1916 -Fueled the “Summer of the Shark” -News headlines, Dateline, and Time magazine cover story

Media Hype § Fear - Decrease in coastal tourism § 30 times more likely to get struck by lightning § Summer 2000 - 3 shark attacks in Wrightsville Beach, NC § Summer 2001 – 0 shark attacks!

Management Issues § Efforts to create a sense of “control” and promote tourism § Shark “task force” - ‘Prevent’ future attacks and “make our waters safer” § Education – pamphlets, new articles… § Ban Shark Feeding – “Pavlovian” situation § Shark. POD’s – Electric shark repellent § Shark Fencing

Should we keep our toes out of the water? International Shark Attack File § Recent Global Trend DOWN! § 2000 – 82 attacks § 2001 – 52 attacks!