GWS article SF CHRONICLE 9/15

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/09/15/MN9P1FA20L.DTL

From the article:

The study of shark attacks by McCosker and Lea concludes that punching sharks in the nose, grabbing the gills or otherwise fighting the animal probably has little effect.

BUll$4!T!!....dont care what they say. I have first hand experience!

The image in the article is quite small so here it is (got it from the user comments).



or http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2010/09/14/ba-sharks0915_gr_SFCG1284510185.jpg

DFG News Release
Sea Otter Deaths From Shark Bites on the Rise
Sep. 15, 2010

Contact:
Carol Singleton, Dept. of Fish and Game, (916) 327-9948
Mike Harris, Dept. of Fish and Game, (805) 772-1135

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) reported collecting a record number of shark-bitten sea otters in August along California’s central coast.

Scientists collected 19 injured or dead otters with signs of shark bites in August and seven already in September. The majority of the otters were collected in the Morro Bay-Pismo Beach area. The 10-year average for August is seven, and for September is six.

Scientists believe this increase in shark-bitten otters in California may be due to cooler than average ocean temperatures from an unusually mild summer, creating an ideal condition for white sharks.

“White sharks do not typically feed on sea otters,” explained Michael Harris, environmental scientist with DFG’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response. Harris has been working with sea otters for 19 years. “Their preferred prey is seals and sea lions. This would explain why the majority of the otters collected have a single bite mark. These bites are more investigative - like a taste test.”

White sharks occur around the world, mostly in cold, temperate seas with a surface temperature of 50 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit. As top-level predators, sharks serve the marine environment by helping keep seal and sea lion populations in check. As white sharks grow, they transition from feeding on fish as juveniles to feeding on marine mammals with high blubber content like seals and sea lions.

“Without much data on the white shark population off California, we can only speculate as to the cause for the increase in the otter bites,” said Harris. “But perhaps there are more juvenile sharks in the area, testing various prey items as they transition.”

Sightings of white sharks by humans may have also increased this year based on anecdotal information provided on a number of websites.

No population estimates exist for white sharks. Some studies of DNA, efforts to tag sharks and attempts to identify individual sharks by unique characteristics have occurred, but the research remains limited.

While white sharks typically do not prey upon humans, water enthusiasts are encouraged to remain aware of their presence in the marine environment. According to DFG’s latest available numbers, California has had 95 white shark attacks since 1950 with only 11 fatalities. Even with population growth and increased human activity in marine waters, the number of incidents involving white sharks has not increased in parallel.

California swimmers, divers, surfers and others can reduce the likelihood of a shark encounter by avoiding places known for white sharks, such the Farallon Islands, Año Nuevo and Bird Rock near Point Reyes. Further, by avoiding areas where sea lions, harbor seals and elephant seals congregate, including their rookeries. Times of reduced sunlight such as foggy mornings or dusk are also high risk times as the human silhouette is more likely to be mistaken for a seal resulting in a bite. White sharks have poor eyesight.

Though not protected as a threatened or endangered species, California regulations prohibit the take of white sharks under a sportfishing license and the commercial fisheries are prohibited from targeting the species.

For more on white sharks, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/pdfs/sharkfacts.pdf.

White sharks have poor eyesight.

LASIK!

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_16091359

The image in the article is quite small so here it is (got it from the user comments).

geez that image really makes you think about whether fishing in october is worth it

Check out the 'high concentration' area in Sept. 

Article stated no attacks in SF Bay.

In the older book "Shark Attack" by H. David Baldridge (1974 pub date), the author reported that the first recorded shark attack in Nor Cal occurred on 8 July 1926 when a guy was attacked by a tiger shark in SF Bay (no further details reported).

Although just outside SF Bay, a guy was killed by a GWS on 7 May 1959 while swimming 50 yards off of Baker Beach.