Shark Attack

[Smiling JOe]

Joe, you're a Dawg?! I never knew, thought I was the lone k9 down this way. Woof woof woof!

You are not alone, and I know plenty of other Dawgs, many who still live in Athens, with vacation houses in the area. I bump into Athenians all the time. Last year, I went to a street party in Blue Mtn, and saw 5 people I know from Athens. Turns out that they each own a house on that street, all by coincidence. None of them knew each other. Small world. I always said that sometimes you have to travel half way around the world to meet your neighbor.

 

[JB]

OK, I'm confused JB! Who's the "SICK" one here? Sorry but I weigh in w/ Marine Biologist.

Let's see, if memory serves me, the shark who attacked the kid at Pensacola Beach a few summers ago was somehow pulled to shore and shot. Is it your opinion that the shark should have just been given a friendly pat on the fin and sent on his way? Please.

I think if an attack hit a little closer to home, you would lose that "tree hugger" mentality pretty quick. Sharks have a place in our aquatic ecosystem. I acknowledge that. However, a shark that attacks a human should be destroyed.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Let's see, if memory serves me, the shark who attacked the kid at Pensacola Beach a few summers ago was somehow pulled to shore and shot. Is it your opinion that the shark should have just been given a friendly pat on the fin and sent on his way? Please.

I think if an attack hit a little closer to home, you would lose that "tree hugger" mentality pretty quick. Sharks have a place in our aquatic ecosystem. I acknowledge that. However, a shark that attacks a human should be destroyed.

Simmer down JB, take a walk on the beach.
When you enter the open water, you enter the world of other creatures. No different than going into the great Alaskan wilderness, you are out of your element and are at risk, just as a grizzly bear is out of his element if he wonders into downtown Denver. That bear has a much higher risk of death.

Again, being human, we tend to have a huge ego, myself inluded, and even though our life is important to us, sometimes we forget that we are rather meaningless in terms of the whole picture of the universe. We are not God's only creation.

 

[Kurt]

Joe, you're a Dawg?! I never knew, thought I was the lone k9 down this way. Woof woof woof!

Ugh.:roll: That dog licking the boy is a classic, even though I'd rather be licked by a gator. How does it feel to be licked by a gator?

http://www.sowal.com/bb/attachment.php?attachmentid=50

 

[hutch]

Chrisv, SJ

Yes, there are a few of us from Athens here. In fact I am a native Athenian.
GO DAWGS. Kenny Rogers is NOT.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Ugh.:roll: That dog licking the boy is a classic, even though I'd rather be licked by a gator. How does it feel to be licked by a gator?

http://www.sowal.com/bb/attachment.php?attachmentid=50

That is one ugly dog and one long tongue. I think I am on the wrong board.

 

[aquaticbiology]

roommate suggested it was weather related

trend data sez water temp -2dC from normal

a bit cooler but not that weird

seawifs calls gulf circulation interesting but not strange

could be tied to slowing of gulf stream/ost

or could just be one of those years

we were in ps joe yesterday just a few miles from cape san blas

saw sharks doing their thing balling baitfish then running them up on beach to trap them and feeding

on today show they said the shark seem 'posessed' theres a new angle - i get it its the apocalypse

today well be in west bay off dyers hope we dont get shot by happy guns port control

this new tracfone web browser rocks

 

[Kurt]

WALTON COUNTY, Fla.- June 27, 2005-Following the fatal shark attack last
Saturday, the Walton County Sheriff's Office has increased it's efforts
to ensure safety along the coast. Sheriff Johnson has increased air
patrols, gulf patrols along the sandbar as well as added deputies for
shore patrol. These units will monitor the coast with four-wheel drive
vehicles and ATVs that are specially designed for beach duty.

The Sheriff's Department will be on aggressive patrol and will alert
swimmers to stay out of the water if a shark is sighted close to shore.
Swimmers are encouraged to exercise caution. The attached tip sheet
provides suggestions for reducing the risk of a shark encounter.
Lodging operators are encouraged to make copies for their guests.

While sharks are common in our waters, this is the first time in 100
years that there has been a reported shark attack in Walton County.

Today, a shark attack was also confirmed in Gulf County off Cape San
Blast. Shark expert, Dr. Erich Ritter confirmed this to be an unrelated
incident and does not foresee this to continue as a trend for shark
attacks in our area.

 

[chikida]

roommate suggested it was weather related

trend data sez water temp -2dC from normal

a bit cooler but not that weird

seawifs calls gulf circulation interesting but not strange

could be tied to slowing of gulf stream/ost

or could just be one of those years

we were in ps joe yesterday just a few miles from cape san blas

saw sharks doing their thing balling baitfish then running them up on beach to trap them and feeding

on today show they said the shark seem 'posessed' theres a new angle - i get it its the apocalypse

today well be in west bay off dyers hope we dont get shot by happy guns port control

this new tracfone web browser rocks

I love to hear other angles and from the scientific side. Thanks for your contributions and objectivity. :clap_1: Does anyone map the sand bars or do they shift too often? This may sound a little nuts but I wondered if sandbars could be defined as 'pawn shops of the deep' where the less desirables are seen hanging out in the alleys or on the deeper side. My thinking was that if the sandbars shifted significantly inland that would reduce the bathing buffer of swimmers and surfers and so we would see an increase in the probability of recent encounters- it's just a theory but thought I'd ask.

 

[Kurt]

My thinking was that if the sandbars shifted significantly inland that would reduce the bathing buffer of swimmers and surfers and so we would see an increase in the probability of recent encounters- it's just a theory but thought I'd ask.

The attack ocurred pretty far out. I'm not so sure anything is different and maybe it was just an unfortunate encounter. People all around and in the media are trying to detemine some reason for it. maybe there is one - I don't know.

If there are more sharks close to shore than normal it could be any one of a dozen factors such as water temps, currents, oxygen levels, baitfish patterns, etc . . . .

There are 2 factors I can think of that have changed since last summer. 2 major storms that have changed the topography of the beaches, sand bars, and probably depths offshore. These storms also may have changed a whole host of other things not readily apparent such as water temps, currents, marine populations and patterns, etc.

The other factor that is easy to observe is the lack of June Grass which is usually thick in the water starting in May or June and lasting a few months. We got a lot of sargassum weed this year but no June grass. That shows you that the water is not the way it usually is. I don't know if there's a connection, but I'll bet sharks don't like swimming in the thick green stuff anymore than we do. The lack of June grass also shows that some other things connected to its absence probably have changed.

Also, When there's a lot of June grass in the water people may be less likely to see sharks near the beach if they are there because they are obscured.

A 3rd factor that may be important is the banning of large gill nets for commercial fishing in 1994. These nets scooped up everything in their path, including many species of fish and animals in the food chain that weren't wanted for sale but were killed nonetheless. Since the net ban we have seen many more fish in the gulf and many species were depleted for a long time before that. No doubt those nets also inadvertently killed sharks and their food.

Only time will tell. In a way I find it amazing we haven't had a shark-related fatality in SoWal in 100 years.