Yahoo! News: Long Beach Island listed third on North America's top shark-attack beaches


Photo credit: Brandon Cole

Note from WildNewJersey.tv: This Yahoo! News article did not note that three of the 1916 New Jersey shark attacks took place in Matawan Creek.

North America is home to dozens of beaches where swimmers and sharks intermix, even though the humans may never know it. According to George Burgess, an ichthyologist at the University of Florida who maintains a database called the International Shark Attack File. When the rare attack happens it's usually a predatory mistake. "In the surf zone, where many attacks happen, sharks need to make quick decisions," he said. "Humans on surfboards—hands splashing, feet kicking — can trigger a shark to think there's trouble or a wounded animal, and it looks like an easy meal."

But according to Laleh Mohajerani, executive director of the shark conservation organization Iemanya Oceanica, sharks are not looking to interfere with humans in the water. Our shark-attack fears are irrational, she said. "You are more likely to be hit by lightning."
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Posted by WILDNEWJERSEY at 8/31/2010 6:00 AM
Categories: Sharks
Tags: shark summer of the shark new jersey shark shark attack long beach island
 

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