Water quality has been improving, forage fish populations have been increasing, laws protecting sharks and seals have caused both of their populations to increase, people using body boards that look just like a tasty seal become a much bigger target than they had been.
I have friends who go skishing (a form of wetsuit fishing) off Montauk, I keep telling them they're going to be steak tartar for a shark one of these days.
but it's the first shark attack fatality on the Cape since 1936, so while encounters between humans and sharks are definitely increasing for many of the reasons jcn mentioned, fatalities fortunately are rare. attacks are rare too, though still an increase over what is typical (though not a per capita increase).
having witnessed a shark demolish a seal while I was on shore I am like Sheriff Brody any time my kids are in the water and I even glimpse a seal in the area.
Its 100% the result of protecting the seals... The seals are everywhere now and so are the sharks looking for dinner...
We (the locals) have been saying for 3-4 years now that its only a matter of time before we get a fatality.. Unfortunately this wont be the last (maybe this year it will)
If they want to reduce the shark population they will need to reduce the population of the seals... No seals for food, the sharks will change their migration. But they will never reopen the seal bounty.
The animal rights folks will not give up the progress that has been Â
made to save people who put their ass in harms way. If you change the habits or population of animals, people are slow to adjust their own habits. Collision is inevitable and with many animals people will not win a one on one collision. I think in the USA more people get killed by deer than any other animal. The deer have been there a long time and we do not adjust very well.
made to save people who put their ass in harms way. If you change the habits or population of animals, people are slow to adjust their own habits. Collision is inevitable and with many animals people will not win a one on one collision. I think in the USA more people get killed by deer than any other animal. The deer have been there a long time and we do not adjust very well.
When it's a matter of policy to allow people to be killed by animals, it's time to change the policy. The resources need to be managed. Failing to perform any management whatsoever is not "progress", it's animal activism run riot.
39 U.S. dog bite-related fatalities occurred in 2017.
Despite being regulated in Military Housing areas and over 900 U.S. cities, pit bulls contributed to 74% (29) of these deaths.
Pit bulls make up about 6.5% of the total U.S. dog population.
During the 13-year period of 2005 to 2017, canines killed 433 Americans.
Two dog breeds, pit bulls (284) and rottweilers (45), contributed to 76% (329) of these deaths. 35 different dog breeds contributed to the remaining fatal dog maulings.
and this is because the seals have teclaimed their natural territory after being protected since the 70's.
People all know the sharks are there and the lifeguards are not on the beaches after labor day to help keep watch from the high chairs. The Cape has lots of beaches with no sharks.
Risk and consequences.
Don't blame the sharks for hunting.
Perhaps but I'm guessing statistically he likely took a far greater risk driving to the beach than swimming at it.
I have friends who go skishing (a form of wetsuit fishing) off Montauk, I keep telling them they're going to be steak tartar for a shark one of these days.
having witnessed a shark demolish a seal while I was on shore I am like Sheriff Brody any time my kids are in the water and I even glimpse a seal in the area.
We (the locals) have been saying for 3-4 years now that its only a matter of time before we get a fatality.. Unfortunately this wont be the last (maybe this year it will)
If they want to reduce the shark population they will need to reduce the population of the seals... No seals for food, the sharks will change their migration. But they will never reopen the seal bounty.
Not to mention trees. Too many damn trees in some places, natural fires having been banned. Our adjustment might be to cut down, cull and burn.
Hate fucking trees. Trees suck.
If they were interested in humans, there would have been dozens of fatalities this season.
Risk and consequences.
Don't blame the sharks for hunting.
The Sharks are not looking for people, a near sighted shark and a case of mistaken identity.
Despite being regulated in Military Housing areas and over 900 U.S. cities, pit bulls contributed to 74% (29) of these deaths.
Pit bulls make up about 6.5% of the total U.S. dog population.
During the 13-year period of 2005 to 2017, canines killed 433 Americans.
Two dog breeds, pit bulls (284) and rottweilers (45), contributed to 76% (329) of these deaths. 35 different dog breeds contributed to the remaining fatal dog maulings.
People all know the sharks are there and the lifeguards are not on the beaches after labor day to help keep watch from the high chairs. The Cape has lots of beaches with no sharks.