whats your view on sharks?

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Plecostomus
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Nov 3, 2008
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I have a report that I have to do for school. They want me to write about:

  • Statistics about attacks
  • Why sharks attack
  • How to avoid attacks
  • Pictures
But all their stuff only talks about sharks attacking for no reason.... I believe most sharks have a reason, for attacking.:irked: Not just because they do...

Do you think that they really attack unprovoked?
 
I think sharks are just like any other fish! They are hungry so they eat....If cichla or rtc was as big as sharks we would be done for!
 
Most sharks that are dangerous to man feed on sick or injured animal life. Think of an injured seal. Is it swimming gracefully, or more probably splashing? It is our swimming style that most often triggers attacks, as well as us looking a bit seal like when surfing. Also, blood atracts them. Women menstruating or open cuts, however small, can bring them coming. All of these are documented reasons for why sharks attack. However, there really are not that many shark attacks at all. They are not the vicous man eaters Jaws makes them out to be. There was a series of attacks in new jersey in 1916, but research has shown that the likely cause of that was a lack of fish forage. Statistically, hippo's are far more dangerous than sharks.
 
While the exact causes of shark attacks can vary depending on the species of shark involved. Some species are natural more aggressive or curious than others. Others may actually have to be provoked to attack.

But usually most attacks are because don't understand what generally makes sharks attack, & they tend to break those certain rules.

The majority of unprovoked attacks seem to be a case of either mistaken identity, simple curiousity, or humans doing something stupid.

And by doing something stupid - I mean things like

- Swimming at night, dusk or dawn - prime feeding time for most sharks.
- Swimming in cloudy or murky water
- Swimming in irregular strokes, or thrash about in the water - a type of sound mimics wounded prey
- Swimming with shiny objects on, like jewelery or watches - often can be mistaken for fishes

Provoked attacks usually occur - because people are grabbing the shark, step on the shark or attempting to take food from the shark.
 
Shark-in-roof-of-a-house.jpg
if sharks could fly pic
 
Ken pretty much hit it on the head:

Shark attacks/bites are very misunderstood. Sharks, unlike us, don't have hands to pick up things and investigate them. Instead they use their mouths. The downside is that exploritory bite will do some serious damage if it's one of the larger species. The word "attack" is probably a bad choice to use. For example, FL is the current "shark attack captial" - but these 'attacks' are usually nurse sharks biting people who are messing with them doing things like holding them, taking a picture or trying to pull them out of a sleeping spot. The bite is a warning to leave them alone - and usually does nothing more than break the skin. Hardly warrents the word "attack" in my opinion.

True 'attacks' are always mistaken identity. Humans look like one of their natural food items, so they react to that. All sharks are opertunistic feeders - meaning they go for the easiest meal possible. They'll looking for the weak, sick, dying, unaware prey so that they don't have to expend un-needed energy in hunting.

To avoid being bitten, avoid being stupid in the water (meaning don't look like prey).

There are some fun statistics I'll like to toss out there to give people a better idea of the chance of being killed.
Every year, more people die by coconuts falling on them, vending machines falling over, sand holes falling in on them, bee stings, garage doors falling, lightning strikes and several other odd ways. Yet people daily go to the snack machine at work, use the garage and burry themselves in sand at the beach. Fear of sharks seems odd when you look at it that way.

Jaws was really the first major step in the publics misconception of shark behavior, and it's been hard to beat that reputation ever since. Sure, big shark attacks are violent, bloody and painful. Death is no laughing matter. But look at the over all picture. How many people enter the coast waters every year and walk away not even knowing there was a shark lurking just under the surface? How many sharks are killing by people compared to the number of people killed by sharks? (I'll answer that one, humans claim roughly 100 million sharks a year.)

Result of not having sharks is something we need to be aware of as well. Sharks are the 'clean up crew'. While acting as the apex predator, they are keeping the rest of the fish population healthy and strong... which is a vital role to play in the over all eco system of the ocean.


If you want more detailed info, let me know. And there is a shark picture gallery link in my sig if you want to browse it.
 
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