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

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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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!

6. 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 • SharkPOD’s – Electric shark repellent • Shark Fencing

7. Should we keep our toes out of the water? InternationalShark Attack File • Recent Global Trend DOWN! • 2000 – 82 attacks • 2001 – 52 attacks!