Shark attacks: 2008 figures could indicate troubling trend for West Coast

Here's something to ponder as you plan your next surfing trip: There were five unprovoked shark attacks along the West Coast, slightly more than double the number for 2007. All involved great white sharks, but only one attack -- that on swimmer David Martin off Solana Beach in April -- was fatal.

The others involved surfers (two) and kayakers (two) and occurred off Huntington Beach, Santa Catalina Island, Santa Barbara and Tomales Bay in Northern California. This is according to the Shark Research Committee, which keeps track of attacks occurring along the West Coast.

Martin reportedly became the third confirmed fatal shark-attack victim during the 21st century. The 2008 figures bring to 42 the total number of authenticated shark attacks along the West Coast during the first eight years of the century -- more than five times the 20th century annual average.

It might be simply because more people venturing into the ocean. It could also be that more white sharks are milling off Southern California, perhaps taking advantage of an exploding population of California sea lions. Or it could be that both factors are in play.

Not included were attacks occurring elsewhere in the United States or internationally, notably three bull shark attacks -- two of them fatal -- on surfers off Zihuatanejo, Mexico, last spring.

I was present during that bizarre, Jaws-like scare. Hopefully, there will be no repeat in 2009. Here's also hoping that fewer white sharks off the West Coast will mistake people for prey.

--Pete Thomas

Photo (top): A sign is posted at Fletcher Cove Park in Solana Beach a day after David Martin was fatally attacked. Credit: Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times. Photo (bottom): A sign cautions beachgoers just south of Zihuatanejo, Mexico, after three shark attacks, two of them fatal. Credit: Pete Thomas / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Tim]

Hey guys, guess what......you go into the water, you're going into THEIR domain. They are only doing what millions of years of evolution have told them to do.....hunt. It's not right to be pissed at the sharks for doing what they do in their everyday lives. If you don't want to risk getting bit, stay out of the water. Plain and simple.

[thaDUTCH]

telling someone to stay out of the water because they may get bit by a shark is absurd. it is just like saying "i'm afraid of getting hit by a car so i will never cross the street. the majority of shark "attacks" are out of sheer curiosity on the shark's part. there will never be a way to know for sure if the shark feels provoked. just remember you are in his domain. "attacks" will happen. deal with it.

[harkin]

If you want to minimize the number of shark attacks, you have to control the sea lion population. When I was a kid divers would routinely dive the Farralon Islands, now if you try that you are shark chow.

Wait till a real nasty series of great white events happens, then the truth will come out.

[max]

It will take a couple more attacks until La Jolla drives that seal colony away. With all the juvanile whites around, the future looks scary. I'm glad I can't surf anymore.

[Dave]

Statistics are an interesting thing.. my bet is on the fact that we have better methods of keeping track of people getting "attacked".. though.. I'm wondering what constitutes and attack.. does bumping count?

Anyway.. certainly it's easier to report an "attack" now than it used to be.

[Enormo]

Hey Senor Huge...

"Global warming is a hoax. Climate change is caused by solar activity not mankind."

Which is it. Is Global Warming a hoax or is it caused by solar activity? Because I reckon that if it's a hoax that solar activity can't causing climate change. And if solar activity is causing climate change then how is it going to be a hoax.

How about you change your name to Senor Retarded

[Nevin]

I'm an east coast surfer who is very wary of bull sharks. They are the meanest and nastiest. They are extremely agressive and keep attacking even after the first few bites.

[CB]

"Liberal gulf stream media?" "Liberal times?" How does political leanings have anything to do with sharks? What a bunch of paranoid freaks you people are.

[Mack]

Thanks for sharing this post. Shark is a very dangrous.We should be beware of fatal shark attacks. You can find sharks in New Smyrna Beach in Florida, Oahu beach, hawaii beach. Though floating shark are available on some beach,but it is of little help. For more detail refer http://www.journeyidea.com/perilous-beach-destinations-beware-of-the-mighty-jaws/

[Kevin]

I suspect the statistics we never hear about are the important ones... We never hear how many of the multitudes of people that visit the waters of the red triangle never actually go beyond the surf. Don't kid yerself.. our waters are colder and more rip tide prone keeping average beach goer towards shore. Obvious point of there being way less people out there in big fish strike zone always goes unfathomed. Consider that along with fact that when the rare attacks do happen on the braver souls they usually have a small craft or board helping thwart fatal attack. It's no wonder we don't have many fatalities with this logic. Comparing chance of being attacked by shark to chance of being struck by lightening is fools play if counting everyone that uses the water. Take 100% of red triangle beach goer and stick them out there with no board beyond the breakers on an early summer/fall morning and we see how it goes down. Lightening stats can be tweaked too.. take a golf club or rifle and climb a mountain in a lightening storm and see how that goes. Listening to statistics is reckless....