Increase in Shark Sightings

People are being frequently attacked on our shores. Shouldn’t the increase in shark sightings and attacks ne sufficient evidence in order to create stricter chumming regulations. For instance, far away in an enclosed area, not in wind of any popular surf spots or beaches.

The officials shouldn’t need scientific proof to regulate chumming. Losing lives is bad enough and this case study is plainly stating that the boat operators are over-chumming; it’s just the scientific proof that’s missing from the equation.

People aren’t allowed to feed local wildlife like baboons because of the danger they pose after being encouraged close by food. Why should sharks be an exception when they’re even more powerful and dangerous than baboons? It is not permitted to feed baboons and they aren’t even capable of taking a persons life in one bite. While it is permitted for a shark to be fed, a creature, which has many razorblade sharp teeth and huge amounts of strength and can take your limb off in one bite.

Additionally, if you had to go to national park, environmentalists would cause uproar if they were notified that food was put down to attract the animals. This just causes them to be more familiar with a person, which defeats the purpose of seeing them in a wild park where they are meant to live naturally. The sea shouldn’t be any different. Often you visit a game park and see nothing, the ocean should be treated in the same respect. Food shouldn’t be put out to attract animals and interfere with their natural hunting activities. This is when trouble happens involving humans. Humans shouldn’t involve themselves in the natural way of the animal’s environment.

This really needs to be taken into consideration since there is no logic in these regulations. If baboons can endanger people’s lives so can sharks.

Fear Beneath, 2009. Great White Shark near Brixby Ranch CA [image online] Available at: http://www.fearbeneath.com/2009/12/perth-great-white-sharks-tagged-and-monitored/ [accessed 21 April 2012]