The sharp rise in global shark attacks on humans are linked to global warming, tourism and new building projects in coastal regions. It appears that the water is more dangerous to enter in certain areas of the world, and sadly humans are to blame.
It appears that humans are increasingly entering into the sharks natural habitat and that is leading to these attacks, which can easily be fatal. Warmer seas, due to global warming, allow sharks to increase their population faster.
The study was carried out at Bond University Queensland, Australia. They took up the task due to a large rise in attacks in the past few years. In the UK shark attacks are still a rarity, but the attacks are in areas where UK citizens like to visit on holiday, where they might enter the water for recreational activities.
In 2015 there were 98 attacks, an eleven per cent increase on the previous record and almost a seventy per cent rise in the last decade.
Most attacks occur in just six areas, South Africa, Brazil, Australia, USA, the Bahamas and Reunion. Additionally over fifty per cent happen in American waters, with Florida being the most frequent spot for attacks.
Dr Blake Chapman and Dr Daryl McPhee, who conducted the study said: “Coastal development and infrastructure can have major environmental implications on the distribution of sharks, and this can flow on to the number of unprovoked shark bites”.
Construction projects also bring humans closer to sharks and increase the chances of an altercation between each other. In Recife, Brazil a port was built and attacks, that had been very rare, by sharks have made it one of the most dangerous places in the world for humans to enter the water.
The report said: “Unprovoked shark bite was virtually unheard of in Recife prior to the construction and operation of the Suape Port.
“However, due to environmental changes displacing local shark species and the presence of increased shipping activity, Recife is now renowned for having one of the highest rates of shark bites per unit area in the world”.
Since you are here
Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.
Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.
Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.
If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.
To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.
The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.
The shop can be found here.
You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .