Slow Response, but with Great Effect

With the weather getting warmer and the summer getting closer and closer, many residents of the Cape have been stressing over how officials should be responding to the rise of Great White Shark presence in Cape Cod waters. After the two shark attacks from last summer, one of which was fatal, there seems to be a sense of urgency amongst residents and tourists. They feel that these experts and officials are taking too long to map out their plan of how to ensure the safety of those who enter the waters of these apex predators. It's understandable that the public feels that this problem has to be resolved as quickly as possible, especially with the rate at which shark sightings are increasing every summer. The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy reported a 67% increase in shark sightings between 2017 and 2018. Even Dr. Greg Skomal expressed his worries that this increase in shark presence may increase the probability of attacks this summer, with beach-goers venturing deeper into the water. However, I don't think we should be worried about how long it will take for these efforts to be implemented, but rather as to how effective they would be on public safety.

According to the team of shark experts who are carrying out the study, the reason that they won't be able to implement any new strategies until after summer is because this study requires a long, measured out process that has to get approval by multiple committees. Their study will mostly consist of plans such as shark nets/barriers along beaches, shark-detecting sonar buoys, and smart drum-lining. These are strategies that they hope will prevent these sharks from coming close to shore and attacking swimmers in the first place. 

Along with posting warning signs, officials on the Cape have focused more toward taking extra precautions in the event that an attack occurs. They hope to make the waters safer for swimmers by analyzing where Great White Sharks attack most often. Their methods consist of the following.

-Improving communications at beaches by installing emergency call boxes
-Expanded lifeguard presence across the beaches
-Increasing the number of emergency medical technicians at the beaches
-Continuing public education and outreach
-Providing first-aid training to the public and staff
-Reducing emergency response times for paramedics

Some people may feel that these strategies will be ineffective because rather than prevent shark attacks from happening, they only help us prepare for how to respond in the event of an attack. Tourists who visit the Cape this summer will begin to wonder, if these experts can't find a way to keep us safe from shark attacks, are they really doing everything they can?

One thing that the public needs to understand is that we can't always be 100% effective with everything they do. To make something fully effective, it requires time, patience, and a long, well thought out process. One of the main reasons why these strategies are going to take a longer time for shark researchers and experts to implement is because of costs. Researchers from Woods Hole have considered the usage of aerial drones and spotter planes to track where sharks are moving along the coast, something that will cost at least several hundred thousand dollars to use. Even the Town Manager of Wellfleet made a statement saying, "I can completely understand those who think these efforts are moving too slowly, But when it's public safety and a proposal to spend millions of dollars, the town needs to make sure it's done right." And that's the case for everyone that wants to make a proposition or change to a community. It has to be reviewed, analyzed, and approved by politicians, because they have the final decision in whether or not it gets passed. In the meantime, all we can do is take precautions for what to do in the rare event that we come into contact with these predatorily creatures. Yes, it may not be 100% effective in preventing another attack, I can guarantee it will prevent another fatality from an attack. And that should be our number one priority when it comes to dealing with these situations.

Aloha Sharks

Shark attacks are one of the most rare occurrences in the world. The number of attacks per year are so low that it's very difficult for scientists to do a statistical analysis on why the number of fatal attacks tends to vary year by year. Statistically, risk of dying from a shark attack is amongst the lowest. 

Annual Risk Of Death During One's Lifetime

DISEASE AND ACCIDENTAL CAUSES OF DEATHS	ANNUAL DEATHS	DEATH RISK DURING ONE'S LIFETIME
Heart disease	652,486	1 in 5
Cancer	553,888	1 in 7
Stroke	150,074	1 in 24
Hospital Infections	99,000	1 in 38
Flu	59,664	1 in 63
Car accidents	44,757	1 in 84
Suicide	31,484	1 in 119
Accidental poisoning	19,456	1 in 193
MRSA (resistant bacteria)	19,000	1 in 197
Falls	17,229	1 in 218
Drowning	3,306	1 in 1,134
Bike accident	762	1 in 4,919
Air/space accident	742	1 in 5,051
Excessive cold	620	1 in 6,045
Sun/heat exposure	273	1 in 13,729
Lightning	47	1 in 79,746
Train crash	24	1 in 156,169
Fireworks	11	1 in 340,733
Shark attack	1	1 in 3,748,067

Sources: All accidental death information from National Safety Council. Disease death information from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Shark fatality data provided by the International Shark Attack File.

Lifetime risk is calculated by dividing 2003 population (290,850,005) by the number of deaths, divided by 77.6, the life expectancy of a person born in 2003.

Scientists were surprised when they found that Hawaii experienced two fatal shark attacks in the year 2013. These were the first fatal attacks in almost a decade.  Were these fatal attacks coincidence?  Could the fatal attacks have been triggered by environmental influence or is behavior natural to the sharks? What is known is that  Maui sees over 60% of shark attacks in the Hawaiian islands. 
Maui has an insular shelf that slopes off into deep water.  On Maui, there is more of that kind of shelf habitat than on any other of the main Hawaiian islands.  The belief is that the Tiger Sharks come to this area to feed or reproduce. 

In 2013 over 1,400 tons of molasses spilled into the waters around Maui, killing hundreds of thousands of fish and marine life in the process.  A diver who surveyed the damage was quoted saying, "Everything that was underwater suffocated, everything climbed out of its hole and the whole bottom was covered with fish, crabs, lobsters, worms, sea fans--anything that was down there was dead."

The Hawaii Health Department had concerns that this would attract more predatorial fish around the area, such as sharks, eels, and barracuda. Their predictions were accurate. The increase in shark presence and activity increased.

Certain experts also believe that natural causes may play a factor in the rise in shark presence as well. They noticed that the rise in shark bites occurred around October, which also happens to be the month when pregnant female sharks travel from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to the Main Hawaiian Islands to give birth to their young. This theory was brought up following a previous 7-year  tagging and tracking study of the migration of sharks in the area. 

It's hard to say exactly which theory is true, and we may never be able to determine which one is true. The biggest problem with shark attacks is that the numbers are so low it's hard to determine what's causing these fluctuations. It may be due to natural fluctuations or by human causes. But in the case that it is human causes, we just have to make sure we take the precautions that we need in order to prevent this from happening in the future. We have to start taking responsibility for our own faults and take the necessary actions to reverse them.

The Beginning of the End, or the Start of a New Beginning?

More questions than answers. 

For years, that's been the goal for scientists and conservationists to  learn as much as they can about sharks. As their populations have dwindled over the years, biologists have been focusing on identifying the obstacles that these sharks are facing. 

But what if I told you we have been missing a key question about these magnificent creatures? What if they held more answers than questions? 

Can sharks save us? 

In a new scientific discovery, the answer to how humans and sharks can benefit from each other may be close.  Sharks experts may have uncovered the secret of the genes of these apex predators, that their DNA can help cure cancer and other age-related diseases. This discovery could be one huge step for the future of nature and mankind.

Photo courtesy of Natalie O'Neill

The published research was carried out by a team of scientists at the Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Research Center at Nova Southeastern University in Florida.  The focus of this study was to compare the stability of genes in both humans and sharks. The main difference they found was the vulnerability held in both types of genetics. The fact that genes in humans are relatively unstable is what makes us more vulnerable to age-related diseases such as cancer.  

Sharks on the other hand don't have that problem.  The reason could be that they have been around for millions of years before humans.  Sharks have evolved to a point where their DNA is able to repair itself, making them much more tolerant to damage.  This is a fascinating finding and prospect to cancer research.

Photo Courtesy of Rory Arnold

While this group of scientists hasn't found all the answers,  they have confirmed that the source of healing power within their DNA comes from the mutations within it. 

A mutation is a permanent alteration in the DNA sequence that makes up the gene and it occurs after the gene gets damaged.  The presence of strong mutations could be what helps them build up their immune system.  In addition, the genes of a Great White contain one and a half times the amount of information compared to that of a human.

During the study, Dr. Michael Stanhope, co-director of the Save our Seas Foundation, found that the genes of Great Whites contain a high number of interspersed nuclear elements.  These elements are supposedly what make genes unstable by creating double-stranded breaks in the DNA. This seemingly is an indication that sharks are more vulnerable to the disease.  However, Dr. Stranhope believes otherwise. He stated that this presence of interspersed nuclear elements could represent how these sharks have a strong selective agent within their DNA as a result of evolution. The fact that these sharks have evolved over millions of years is the most likely reason for how they developed such efficient DNA repair mechanisms.

One reason humans have failed to see the importance of shark conservation is because they are unable understand the importance as to why sharks are essential to scientific frontiers. 

Photo of Byron Dilkes

Scientists have continuously been trying to educate the public of how sharks help maintain balance in our marine ecosystems.  But, the shift to scientific research of their DNA and how their cancer fighting properties due to their evolution should be paired to the preservation and protection of these animals. It is now a viable option of study for the health and preservation of humankind.

  

Controversy of Conservation

Deep Blue. Possibly the largest Great White shark to ever be caught on tape in the wild, at 21 feet long. She first became viral back in 2013, when a group of cage divers in Guadalupe recorded her swimming past their cage. Not only was this a once in a lifetime experience for those who were in the water, but was also  For the next several years, Deep Blue flew (or in this case swam) low under the radar, until recently, when she made a surprise appearance in the waters off the island of Oahu. Video footage showed Ocean Ramsey, a shark conservation advocate, free diving in the deep blue waters while swimming alongside this 7-meter shark. As a strong conservationist, it has always been Ramsey's goal to inspire people to look deeper into the eyes of these apex predators, and find how they're majestic creatures that can tolerate the presence of humans. This however, is probably the reason for the recent backlash.

Many people have responded negatively to this issue, claiming that Ramsey's showing of fearlessness toward these apex predators is somewhat irresponsible, in that it may give people the wrongful mindset that it is okay to swim with these animals. This is another prime example of people not getting the message that someone is trying to convey. Personally, I don't feel as though Ramsey had the intention of making Great Whites look like harmless creatures that can be treated as pets in the ocean. What she's trying to say is that they are not always the aggressive animals that we would typically associate them with. However, this is only when they're in the right mood, and do not feel the desire for hunting. Experts say that Ramsey was lucky in this case, as this was probably the safest situation she could have been in with a white shark, most likely because it had just been feeding at the time. The problem with touching sharks is more than just the risk of being bitten. It can easily disturb the animal, causing a disruption in the way nature functions. That's one of the main things that people have yet to come to an understanding. If we leave nature alone and allow them to function properly, humans can function properly as well.

As far as my standpoint on this issue, I agree with both sides to a certain extent. I agree with the message that Ramsey is trying to convey, as far as sharks having a more positive side to them than people typically envision. However, I feel like there could have been better ways in which she approached this. People often get inspired by videos they see on the internet or on social media, and feel the urge to try it out for themselves. This is where people having common sense could play a factor into Ramsey getting controversy for her video. Chances are, someone who watches the video will try to go free diving with these predators in hopes of living the same sort of experience. But they need to understand something before they make these decisions. While it is true that 99 percent of all shark species are not dangerous to humans, that doesn't make it ok for you to interfere with their lives. And Great Whites pose a great level of danger. This specific species is perhaps the most misunderstood animal on the whole planet. Depending on the mood they're in, they could be either very aggressive, or very timid. Sometimes they can show express their mood by the way they swim. When in a timid mood, they tend to swim slower, with their backs arched an angle. When they start swimming faster, with their backs straighter, that's a warning sign that you should leave their territory. The bottom line is, if you're going to interact with these animals in their natural environment, it is essential that you take these precautions into consideration before entering the water. As long as we give nature the respect they deserve, they will leave us alone, and we can both get along well.

The Case of Mistaken Identity

For years people have been instilled with the fear of sharks being bloodthirsty animals with a taste for human flesh. They believe this is the reason as to why shark attacks on humans is seemingly on a yearly basis. 

Conversely, scientists have argued against this theory. Statistics show sharks do not prefer to feed on humans, because if that were the truth, then almost all shark attacks would result in fatalities. 

Opening statement....or scientific fact...  When historians surveyed shark attacks of the 20th century, they found that only 8 out of the 108 attacks that occurred along the Pacific Coast during that time had resulted in fatalities. When you consider the number of humans in the water during that 100 year period, you realize that deadly strikes are very rare.

Humans vs Great White Sharks.  Summer of 2018, Cape Cod saw it's first shark attack fatality in over 82 years. In 1936, a rising High School Senior was swimming with a friend off Mattapoisett at Hollywood Beach. They were swimming in 10 - 15 feet of water. The boy suffered bite wounds all over and later died at the hospital due to blood loss. In September 2018, a 26 year old man was bitten while out boogie boarding at Newcomb Hallow beach in Wellfleet. He also later died from his wounds after efforts were made by beachgoers and emergency personnel.  Both of these deaths as well as other recent attacks are concerning.  However, as a shark is unable to decipher the difference between a seal or a human who's shape appears in the murky green water of Massachusetts, these attacks may be a sharks way of testing if it is a desired prey. There is no evidence of sharks eating humans.

Defense you may call your first witness.  Questioning the marine biologists collectively the theory stands that sharks don't like the taste of human flesh. That they have no intention of consuming as food.   Then why do these apex predators seemingly keep attacking humans?   Answer is quite simple. This is the shark's normal and naturally curious behavior.  The reason that White sharks, tiger sharks, and bull sharks attack humans, is simply due to the fact that they're designed to attack large living prey at the surface. Majority of these "attacks" are simply test bites.  In order for the sharks to feel out their prey, and figure out if it's worth the meal.  More often than not, Great Whites will spit humans out. Reason believed is because humans are so bony. Great Whites have very slow digestive tracts; Therefore, if they eat something less than optimal, it slows down their digestive tract for days. This also makes them selective about what they eat. 


Great Whites have six highly refined senses of smell, hearing, touch, taste, sight and electromagnetism. The most acute being smell.  If there was a single drop of blood in 10 billion drops of water - they would smell it.  Great Whites external ears are small openings behind and above the eyes. The sense the tiniest vibration.  Great Whites have excellent vision.  Similar to cats, Great Whites can adapt from day vision to night vision. However, they uniquely can roll it's eye backwards in the socket when feeling threatened or attacking. 


Victim profile. 5' 11" long slender shape, flippers, dark shadow, slight splashing sounds.....Attacks on divers and surfers in wet suits are believed by marine biologists and conservationists as mistaking the humans for pinnipeds (seals and sea lions).  Seals are Great Whites main prey. Sharks are extremely curious by nature. The approach most attacks on humans varies very different then attacks on seals. With human attacks, the Great White tends to come at the victim on the surface, allowing its presence to be known. Once the shark bites the victim,  the animal realizes its mistake, it releases the victim and swims away.  

When a shark attacks a seal, there is the attack from below and by surprise approach taken.  Sharks tend to come up from the depth and breach with the seal in its jaws. Very different from the majority of human attacks. 

Judgment is for Sense and sensibility. Whenever I enter the water SCUBA diving off of the North Shore of Massachusetts or free diving  on the Cape,  I make sure to not wear anything that could appeal to a shark's curiosity, such as a black wetsuit or bright fins which can capture the sharks attentions. There are multiple precautions divers, surfers, and beach goers should take before entering the water. This, after all, is the home of the apex predator. 

The following rules should be followed when heading to the ocean:

1) Stay in groups and do not wander away from your companions, since sharks are more likely to attack individuals.

2) Avoid being in the water during early morning and late afternoon, since sharks actively feed at those times.

3) Never go into the water if you are bleeding, even if the cut or injury is minor. Sharks possess very keen senses, and blood could attract one from several feet away.

4) Don't wear shiny jewelry when in the water. The glisten mimics fish-scale sheen and visually labels you as shark prey.

5) Stay away from sport or commercial fishermen when in the water, as their catches could attract sharks.

6) Avoid wearing brightly colored clothing in murky waters, since sharks easily perceive color contrasts.

7) Refrain from excessive splashing, which could mimic the movements of injured or disoriented prey fish and animals.

8) Sandbars, steep drop-offs and estuary inlets tend to be shark hangouts, so avoid swimming in these places.

Ruling: mistrial.