Conservation Corner: July 1, 2002

Be Careful of Sharks On The Gulf Coast
by James L. Cummins

Visitors to Gulf Coast beaches this Fourth of July and this summer have to be thinking a little more about the possibility of encountering a shark following two widely publicized attacks last year, but the chance of becoming a victim remains pretty slim.

"The probability of your being bitten by a shark is extremely low," said Dr. Glenn Parsons, an associate professor of biology at the University of Mississippi who has studied Gulf sharks for several years. "If you add up all the hours people spend in the water around the world and look at the number of shark attacks, and then add up all the hours people spend in cars compared to the number of accidents, you'll want to spend a lot more time in the ocean and less time in a car."

The number of shark attacks has risen in recent years; 79 incidents were recorded worldwide last year, including 34 in Florida waters; but more people are killed each year by bees, crocodiles and lightning than by sharks. Last year, a bull shark attacked an 8-year-old boy in Florida, biting off his arm and leaving him in a coma. A surfer was attacked near the same location nine days later, but managed to fight off the animal.

Although the risk of being attacked is low, Parsons suggests that swimmers take a few simple precautions to reduce those odds even more:
* Swim between 10 a.m. and 6 or 7 p.m. Sharks are most active during feeding times when the light is changing, such as early in the morning and at dusk.
* Don't swim if you have open cuts or are menstruating. Sharks have keen senses, and bodily fluids in the water may attract them.
* Don't swim near piers where people are fishing or putting bait in the water.
* Stay clear of areas where the water is murky. "When the water is cloudy the possibility that a shark might mistake a foot or a body part for a fish is increased," Parsons said. "It is hard to find clear water in a lot of places along the Coast, but if you go out to the barrier islands, for example, the water is a lot clearer."
* Don't swim alone in deserted areas. Swimming in a group or in areas with a lot of people reduces the chances you'll be attacked.
* If possible, plan beach trips before July or after August. Fewer shark attacks are reported in spring or late summer.

Some experts offer other tips such as not wearing brightly colored swimsuits or shiny jewelry, and avoiding excessive splashing but Parsons said the value of such measures is questionable. "In terms of the effect on your overall risk, I'm sure it's extremely small. It's far more important to just use common sense and not be in the water during the times that sharks are most active or if a shark has been sighted in the area."

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi.