The following press release, provided by the Shark Research Committee, is a summary of Pacific Coast shark attacks during 2008:
For Immediate Release
January 12, 2009
Pacific Coast Shark Attacks During 2008
There were 5 unprovoked shark attacks confirmed from the Pacific Coast
of North America during 2008, which is slightly more than half of the
total number of authenticated shark attacks reported during 2007. The
victims were engaged in surfing (2), kayaking (2), and swimming (1). The
fatal attack on swimmer David Martin at Solana Beach in April was the
third fatality confirmed for the 21st Century, with the prior two
occurring in the month of August in 2003 and 2004. The Great White
Shark, Carcharodon carcharias, was positively identified as the causal
species in all five of the attacks verified in 2008. This brings the
total number of authenticated shark attacks along the West Coast during
the first 8 years of the 21st Century to 42, ‘more than five times’
the Twentieth Century annual average.
“Shark Attacks of the Twentieth Century” authenticated 108 unprovoked
shark attacks from the Pacific Coast between 1900 and 1999. The Great
White Shark, was implicated in 94 (87%) of the attacks with an annual
average of slightly more than one shark attack per year. It is
compelling that since the year 2000 there have been 42 unprovoked shark
attacks reported from the Pacific Coast. This is nearly 40% of the total
number of attacks reported for the entire Twentieth Century and all in
less than a decade.
The most recent victim was Tony Johnson kayaking near Tomales Head and
Dillon Beach, California on December 20th. He was the eighth kayaker to
be attacked off the Pacific Coast since the first reported incident in
1989 and the 150th shark attack victim since 1900. The Great White Shark
has been implicated in 130 (87%) of the 150 confirmed unprovoked shark
attacks reported from the Pacific Coast of North America.
There were 36 shark attacks confirmed from California, which includes 3
fatalities, and 6 unprovoked attacks reported from Oregon during the
first eight years of the 21st Century. Surfers accounted for 32 (76%) of
the shark attacks documented since 2000 with 4 (10%) swimmers, 3 (7%)
kayakers, 2 (5%) divers and 1 (2%) paddle boarder. The number of
juvenile and adult Great White Sharks observed in the Southern
California area during 2008 suggests a possible change in their
population dynamics and seasonal site preferences. The number of
stranded marine mammal carcasses reported, specifically their location
and time of year, would seem to support this observation. The Shark
Research Committee will closely monitor this activity in the coming year.
Additional information regarding the Shark Research
Committee’s conservation, education, and research programs and how you
can participate are available at:
www.sharkresearchcommittee.com
Related posts:
Fear Mongering George Bush style…
“This is nearly 40% of the total number of attacks reported for the entire Twentieth Century and all in less than a decade.” This analysis is flawed. One cannot make claims or implications that something sinister is happening with our Carcharodon carcharias cousin based on a one dimensional statistic. Other statistics need to be considered. The obvious, since most attacks happen on surfers (76% in the 21st century), is the advent of the wetsuit and the popularity of surfing (huge increase in numbers of surfers in the 1950’s through the 60’s, again in the 90’s). And how about the sale of the surfing culture as a fashionable means of individuality (Quicksilver makes socks and Billabong makes laptop bags?) and popular movies like Blue Crush. This has heavily contributed to the 21st century influx of people trying to surf – Drive by Linda Mar on a Saturday morning and the case is made. If one were to look at a graph of the growth in popularity of ocean sports compared to the growth in shark attacks, the 20th vs. the 21st century claim may not be that stunning. A better analysis would include this and other statistics such as over-fishing, illegal whaling, killing of other species of sharks for their fins, pollution, etc… My point is there are obviously more shark attacks, but to try to shock people based solely on the growth of a single stat is without merit. Let’s really dive into why, and take a harder look at what humans do to wreck the symbiosis of nature and what we might be able to change. Unless of course this article is written by a jaded surfer like me who is sick of getting snaked, blocked, or dropped in on and is just trying to thin out the lineup. Then I get it. Maybe we should include a statistic like most attacks occur on surfers with less than 2 years of experience.
Peace
Well put, sir.
If you are worried about the protection of sharks and protecting yourself from sharks, the best thing you can do is get your self one of those electronic Shark Shields. They make them in Australia and they work an absolute treat.
JG from the comment above says, “we should include a statistic of attacks on surfers with less than 2 years experience”. An excellent idea…and as well include a stat of shark attacks on much-maligned-malcontent-whiners-with-a-sense-of entitlement, someone much like yourself, JG. I exalt in your awesomeness and vast experience…what you got, two and a half years? You make some good points in your comment and then go and lose all credibility with your last 3 sentences. Just as in the line-up, guys like you never know when to shut-up. I suggest you stick to skateboarding where, I assume, the “snakes” are less.
Hah ha… Glad to see I am not alone in my jadedness. Although, I am not sure exactly who the whiner is here. Mr. sharkturd I think you missed my point, but all is forgiven.
Peace
my friend had his leg bite of by a shark he has never been in the sea sence the attack
SharkShield? Hmm. Two minutes of googling turned up a test in South Africa where the shark actually ate the thing.
Settle down
I saw a shark where I was surfing on saturday and it wasnʻt a problem; I actually petted it and gave it a kiss on its burled out nose, so sweet…
meyerhoffer boards repeal sharks …another reason to spend a grand on his incredible yuppie shapes.
No man – I rode one of Clinghoffers boards last weekend in some pretty heavy surf. A Big Surf left.
After a 2 mile hike the board felt weightless in my arms. The waistline of the board suited me well, it was like carrying a mannequin. The locals greeted me with awe and let me have most of the waves because I was on an “art” board.
These boards are sure to be very popular this coming season; well suited to the thousands of surfers looking for a new NOR CAL design.
i hear that the m-hoff allows you to twitter while you surf so all your friends can meet you at the beach and then post it to their facebook page
tried a meyerhoffer micro brew this weekend, incredibly smooth with just a slight aftertaste.
tasted slightly like the pasture after the morning
dew has lifted. look forward to his special
summer blend later this month.
wrestled two sharks today at ob. came away with one less leg… the m-hoff took the brunt of the bite.
bellyboarded 3 foot back half of the hoff, did a floater
and 360 in the soup, called harbor patrol. now resting
comfortably at home. things are going to be different now
Broʻs and Hoʻs.
Special Attention SANFRANPSYCHOSELLOUT:
ClingHoffer Alert!
I fondled another one at WISE yesterday – yep WISE has ʻem. Tell ʻem BVB sentcha. The thing about the ClingHoffer is its ability to go straight when one wants to curve. Must be the anti-gravity curve built into the epoxy.
As for the shark living 40 yards off O.B… What can I say? Iʻm getting used to seeing it – all you have to do is call it like a kitty kat and itʻll swim up next to you and purr as you stroke it. Just ask Billy.