Just watched a docu on a potentially rogue shark after 4 shark attacks in a very short period of time at almost the exact same spot. This in Australia.
They got shark experts in to investigate how and what and if there indeed was a rogue shark or not.
Another shark expert researches if there is a 'why' that is causing this as it used to be one of Australia's safest bays to swim.

While that is going on the police manage to kill 3 tiger sharks.
Me thinking, "Great! Have we learnt nothing yet over the last centuries? One animal kills a human, let's just kill as many of that type of animal as we can!! Stupid idiots!"
Sorry, but I can't stand that kind of knucklehead behaviour. It's the same with wolves. Also P me O.

It didn't help as after that 2 more people were attacked.

Anywho... turns out that the reason sharks are suddenly attacking in that bay is... human behaviour!
1) lots of boats in the water and people on the boat:"
--- throw leftover food & garbage in the water
--- deliberately throw food in the water to attract a shark

2) On other boats people are fishing and...
--- throwing bait in the water
--- throwing waste from cleaning the fish in the water

All this attracts sharks, of course. Sharks are very smart and quickly learn where there is a 'McSwim-through' for food, much easier than hunting in the wide open oceans. They get used to hearing/sensing a splash and there being food in the water (leftover/garbage/deliberately thrown in) so they go for it in full force to have a meal. Most sharks don't even attack humans. Thing is the waters in that bay are very unclear, poor visibility. So if then there's a splash and movement in the water they take it to be another "McSwim-through" meal. WE taught them that ourselves. But if it then happens to be a human that jumped off a boat with a splash for a swim...

So it's human behaviour that causes this. One 12 year old girl lost her leg, 1 woman's leg could be saved with extensive surgery but she cannot feel the leg at all anymore. Another didn't make it, and the 4th I cannot recall them saying what happened.

All because humans don't think and act like idiots, and as punishment for things going wrong innocent animals get killed.
It doesn't make sense at all and is so effing sad!
When I was in Townsville Australia I was about to take a boat trip that would have you swim with fish etc. I decided against it. I don't go swimming in waters when there's quite the chance of shark presence. There was an area accessible from the beach with a shark net in the water. But this is not a 100% guarantee. I did not go in there either. Sod it. It's the sharks' home, not mine! And I respect that.

They said to not go fishing where people are swimming. Personally I wouldn't get off a boat for a swim when there were quite a lot of other boats in the area either, but that's me. The reason being people throwing food overboard that attracts sharks.
All victims were bitten within seconds of jumping in the water so I think it's pretty safe to say they are just waiting in the vicinity of boats for food to be thrown in. They mentioned that too, that the boat and its shadow make a good hiding place.

This kind of plural attack can happen anytime anywhere in the world where sharks occur if people do the same stupid thing there.

Shark attacks are at a record high, even
here in Florida.

Could be their natural territory is being invaded , and their food supply is being attacked and taken out of their reach !!
I see the same problem with coyotes out where I live ..... they are out in the open and chasing down small dogs etc etc . All because their natural habitat is being developed into tons of housing units or future shopping malls !!!

Yes, and the same is happening on the oceans apparently.

Peculiar thing with the shark attacks in that bay in a really short space of time was the fact there aren't many sharks there at all. Much less than elsewhere.
They confirmed that by tagging a number of sharks so they could track their exact moves and whereabouts.

That way they also found out that there seemed to be a relatively high number of tiger sharks in the bay which is really odd as these are typically shy and don't easily get into unprovoked attack of humans.
Combined with the research of the other man they found that it's people's own fault by tossing food in the water.

We are good at that, aren't we, disrupting things.
Same over here. We have a few wolves back in the country for the first time in lord knows how long.
Loads of people PO they don't get killed, many going totally berserk about them being here, and so on. One did get killed at some point...
Then the other day they said a wolf was spotted here in this province. Highly unlikely as this is coastal area, no woods and the wolves in the country are on the opposite side that borders on Germany.
Turned out to be some dog that got taken for a wolf.
Everyone upset and angry and whatnot, and all over nothing.
I'm pro wolf btw. I see it as a sign that nature is restoring itself :) WE have to adept so we can cohabitat. But that's my view.

Typical... maybe for the same reason? Too many boats on the water and food being thrown in etc?

I know I'd stick to a swimming pool, hihi.
The thought alone of a shark biting off my leg... I think not even 20 yrs of therapy could help me get over that.

Sharks are a favourite topic of mine. Through the years, I've been up close and personal with thousands of sharks of all makes and models. If they're going to get edgy with you, it's common for them to send a warning first. Sometimes, it's a change in posture with exaggerated movements. Sometimes, they give you a good bump. Other times, it's the members of a group that get each other worked up. It's their kingdom. Be prepared to understand their language and play by their rules.

One of the Australian documentaries showed
that a black and white horizontal striped
swimsuit can discourage the likelihood of
a start attack, as that particular color
pattern mimics one of most lethal sea
snakes in the oceans.

Here in Florida, I'd agree that human
encroachment into the sharks' natural
feeding grounds... Swimmers usually keep to
the shallows... Here on the gulf, black tip
sharks feed in the shallows.

Interesting. I'd buy one of those suits if I wanted to go for a swim there, haha.

I wasn't aware some sharks live/feed in the shallows... Another myth busted that you're safe in shallow water.
We don't have sharks here thank goodness, although these days it would be possible since seawater temps are rising.
But as it is we don't have sharks.

On the contrary here in South Africa. Cape Point where the Atlantic meets the Indian Ocean always had a vibrant shark community, specifically the Great White. Over the last two years shark spotters recorded that zero sharks have been spotted in comparison to the 250 yearly in the Cape Peninsula for the past 30 years. Shark attacks were always a thing, my tropical home town has shark nets, but Cape Town has none. But, they have disappeared. Speculations presume the fishing industry is to blame in Cape Town.

Interestingly, over the lockdown period in 2020, shark spotters reported that with the beaches closed, the marine life grew to be far more vibrant. I love the ocean and I believe we are responsible for the disruption of the ecosystem.

the main shark in florida is the bull shark, they are naturally aggressive shallow water hunters. they are also not restricted to salt water, and have been found several hundred miles inland in fresh water.
this is also where humans like to play. so they naturally run across each other a lot more often.

sharks are now a protected species of sea life,. and as such their populations have boomed over the last 20 years.
add human activities, with wild animal instincts. and like you said crystal, they are not stupid. they are going to go after the easy meal. if people are out splashing around in the water, like an injured fish, and theres also blood in the water from bait ( or other reasons). it is going to attract them like ringing a dinner bell.
to be honest. I'm surprised it is happening as rarely as it still is. but it still is increasing all around the world. and it is actually a tourist attraction to dive with them.
people pay to go out and hang out in shark cages, while guides pour chumb in the water to draw in the sharks. so they can see them up close.
just for the thrill of petting a great white as it rubs against the cage (as an example).

Yes, 90% of all sharks have disappeared :( Really sad, and bad as they too are part of an ecosystem.
I learnt tonight from another docu that reef sharks are vital to keeping coral reefs healthy. With so few left many reefs have died. Reefs dying is still going on, also due to rising seawater temps and seawater being more acid nowadays because of what we do.

Sharks being hunted for their dorsal fins is also still a very booming business. They catch them, hoist them aboard, cut off the fin, throw the shark back after which it will die. It's a sick business! I will never ever eat shark fin soup in my life!!

And yes, nature can recover itself, provided we PO. It doesn't even take all that long, all that's needed is us staying the heck out of it.
Apparently if 1/3rd of all coastal seas in the world would be protected from people & commercial fishing ALL oceans and seas and life in it will restore to what it once was and is supposed to be!!
There are a few areas where this was done and in a short time everything went back to normal, from plants, fish, fish eaters, birds, and so on. The whole lot!
Unfortunately these are just a few places and not nearly enough.
And think of it, what would 1/3 of all coastal sea waters be? We still got 2/3 of the rest for tourism and commercial fishing. They seriously overfish(ed) herring and anchovies to name 2. This has had a detrimental impact on the entire food chain. And people often forget it then also has an impact on landscape which for big part is formed and maintained by animal life.

It's not too late, not yet. Not if we seriously do something about it now.
Glad to hear that sharks have been spotted more!
Lots had begun to recover during severe lockdowns and restricted travel & shipment. It is still possible... as long as we PO from enough areas to leave nature intact.

Numbers of sharks are NOT increasing, we are getting less and less. There's only 10% left of the number of sharks we used to have and should have to keep the oceans healthy.

"Shark populations around the world are in rapid decline. Sharks grow relatively slowly, take many years to mature and produce relatively few young."

From the WWF site:
The growing trade in shark fins –often used to make an expensive Asian soup—has become a serious threat to many shark species. The latest research suggests that around 100 million sharks may be killed annually, often targeted for their fins. This practice affects many different shark species, including whale sharks.

As for attacks... apparently Florida has the highest unprovoked attack number in the US.
That's kind of peculiar, on the other hand side... are their more people in water there?

In any case... it's not going well with the number of sharks.

all it takes is for countries to fallow international laws.
but, those laws can only be enforced by other countries with in their own waters. and international waters. that is why (for example) whaling fleets still exist. because international law can not be enforced in national waters.
how long would there be a market for shark fins, if it was illegal to serve shark fin soup and any one caught serving/buying it was punished for doing so
in countries where it is a popular dish to serve??

internationally sharks in general, may be decreasing. but not in waters where they are under protection.
at any rate,here in the US, the bull shark population has been on a steady increase (the shark I was speaking about). and bull shark attacks are not just increasing off the coast of florida, it is all up and down the eastern coast, and in fresh water. like the northern great lakes. and mississippi river.

for example the great white has made a come back in australia,south africa and the western US coastal waters as well.
however, it dont stop other nations from killing them whole sale to off set those recoveries.

Tampa Bay, (near where I live)
is both, a feeding area, and birthing
area, for at least a dozen species of
sharks.

http://baysoundings.com/legacy-archives/fall04/predators.html

it is also lucky for them, that it is also a oceanic preservatory. where most of them are tagged, tracked and studied from birth.

my personal opinion, the sharks are just doing what sharks do.
.

we know they are there, and we enter into their environment any way.
if we get attacked, then it is our fault. there are some things we as humans can do to minimize our risks (as with all things that involve known dangers).
but in the end it is our choice to enter their environment, so we are ultimately responsible for what does or does not happen to us while in their waters.
we can just as easily get dragged out to sea by an under tow, or rip tide and drown (which happens even more often). but thats not the oceans fault.
that said.. sharks like the bull, that also hunt fresh water, are changing the game. and raising our learning curve. by showing up more frequently were most people dont expect a shark to be (fresh water).

Interesting info! Thank you for sharing, Rock.
And again the confirmation that shark numbers are declining way too fast.

I still cannot get my head around the fact that 30 mill to 100 million sharks are caught & killed EACH year. An insane amount!

It's insane. The amount of animals hunted (and for what?)
I'm not sure, if you've watched "Blackfish" the documentary about the Orcas and the devastating consequences of animals in captivity?

It is disgusting that we still do that stuff in this day and age.

One thing we can do is not go to zoos and circus and ocean life places anymore because if you do you help keep it intact.

I remember when 19-20 I was living in jakarta, we went to the zoo and they had polar bears there. In the tropics?! The poor animals were almost dying of the heat.
Dolfinaria with their dolphins having to jump through hoops and throw back a ball etc. etc. SO sad that these poor animals cannot roam the oceans in freedom. Same thing for the sealions they keep.

When my kids were young we went to a place where they had bears that were saved from a horrible life full of torture. Most from Spain where they live on chains, kept for tourist, taken out on the beaches. Poorly fed, maimed etc.
At least once freed and in that special park they can live peacefully and with the loving care they deserve. It damn near made me cry.
The other day I came across an article of a huge bear that had spent 30 years is a way too small cage, often without food for days.
If you Google that you'll find this has and is happening to a great many bears. 20 yrs in captivity etc.
Many of them suffer severe PTSD after they were finally freed, even years later.

In a way we have come far as a species, in another we're still as barbaric as we were centuries ago.