Florida, California may see more sharks this year

The strong El Niño expected to warm ocean waters this year could impact shark activity and bring different species into waters they don’t typically traverse, experts say.Scientists are anticipating an influx of great white sharks off the Pacific coast as they travel north to escape warming waters. Already, baby white sharks have been spotted earlier than usual, said Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach.”If this year is like 2015, which it’s already setting up to be very similar to that, then we’re expecting this other influx of sharks later this summer that will probably get pushed out of Mexico because it gets too warm,” Lowe said. The last super El Niño was in 2015-16. In addition to moving the great white shark population, it also brought new species to California waters. For the first time, there were two hammerhead attacks in 2015 – one on a spear fisher and one on a kayaker fishing, both survived. Hammerheads, Lowe said, aren’t used to people and get excitable in the presence of fish blood.Beaches beyond California may also be affected, experts say. In Florida and the Carolinas, warmer waters may move prey closer to shore, which sharks will follow.Still, while there may be more sharks near coastal beaches, experts say that doesn’t mean there will be more attacks. The likelihood of getting bitten by a shark remains incredibly rare.Take your pick of analogies – you’re more likely to get struck by lightning, bitten by a bear, or die in a car crash on your way to the beach. “Look in your rearview mirror because you’re more likely to end up with a fender bender than a shark bite,” said Gavin Naylor, director of the International Shark Attack Files.Recent trends in shark bitesLast year, there were 25 unprovoked shark bites in the U.S. One of those attacks – in Northern California last December – was fatal. Across the globe, the total number of unprovoked shark bites – 65 – was up slightly from the most recent five-year average. The U.S. had more shark bites last year than any other country. Australia was the runner-up with 21 total attacks, five of which were fatal.Within the U.S., Florida holds the greatest share of shark attacks of any state. About 58% of all historically reported unprovoked bites in the U.S. took place in the Sunshine State. Hawaii follows with about 11% of the bites, California has 9%, and together the Carolinas account for 12% of the bites.To see where shark attacks have occurred each year in the U.S., use the scroll bar below. Are sharks trying to bite you?Scientists don’t have an explanation for the rare cases where a person gets bitten for no apparent reason, but they say that sharks largely ignore people.”They’re around people a lot more than they have been before and realize we’re not food,” Lowe said. “We don’t smell like food, we don’t act like food.”Studies have shown that sharks are not attracted to human blood or menstrual blood. They know the difference between human and fish blood.When it comes to predicting trends in shark bites, Naylor said that it’s harder than predicting the stock market. Attacks are so rare, and the period of record is so small, that it’s impossible to draw strong statistical conclusions.So many things impact shark movements, including water temperatures, tides, toxins and human activity. Different fads, like foiling and windsurfing, put people in new, unexpected areas where sharks may mistake them for a seal.As for which sharks to watch out for, great white sharks, tiger sharks and bull sharks are the “Big Three” when it comes to unprovoked bites. An unprovoked bite excludes cases where a human initiates contact with the shark, for example, by fishing or trying to feed it.Naylor also said that blacktip sharks are common off the coast of Florida, but their bites are far less fatal than those of great whites. How to stay safe Experts say that it is safe to bring your family to the beach this summer, and that any potential changes in shark behavior due to El Niño are no reason to cancel holiday plans. Still, if you’re concerned, there are steps you can take to minimize the risk of an attack.Go to beaches with lifeguards, stay in groups and avoid murky water. Avoid large schools of fish. If fish are jumping out of the water, that means something big is likely chasing them. Fishers off the coast in California should keep an eye out for increased hammerhead activity this year, and if you’re kayak fishing, keep your arms and legs in the boat. Spearfishers should keep any catches on a stringer far away from them.Rip currents and drowning are still the biggest risks for any beachgoers this year. Every year, about 4,000 Americans die due to drowning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=

The strong El Niño expected to warm ocean waters this year could impact shark activity and bring different species into waters they don’t typically traverse, experts say.

Scientists are anticipating an influx of great white sharks off the Pacific coast as they travel north to escape warming waters. Already, baby white sharks have been spotted earlier than usual, said Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach.

“If this year is like 2015, which it’s already setting up to be very similar to that, then we’re expecting this other influx of sharks later this summer that will probably get pushed out of Mexico because it gets too warm,” Lowe said.

The last super El Niño was in 2015-16. In addition to moving the great white shark population, it also brought new species to California waters. For the first time, there were two hammerhead attacks in 2015 – one on a spear fisher and one on a kayaker fishing, both survived. Hammerheads, Lowe said, aren’t used to people and get excitable in the presence of fish blood.

Beaches beyond California may also be affected, experts say. In Florida and the Carolinas, warmer waters may move prey closer to shore, which sharks will follow.

Still, while there may be more sharks near coastal beaches, experts say that doesn’t mean there will be more attacks. The likelihood of getting bitten by a shark remains incredibly rare.

Take your pick of analogies – you’re more likely to get struck by lightning, bitten by a bear, or die in a car crash on your way to the beach.

“Look in your rearview mirror because you’re more likely to end up with a fender bender than a shark bite,” said Gavin Naylor, director of the International Shark Attack Files.

Recent trends in shark bites

Last year, there were 25 unprovoked shark bites in the U.S. One of those attacks – in Northern California last December – was fatal.

Across the globe, the total number of unprovoked shark bites – 65 – was up slightly from the most recent five-year average.

The U.S. had more shark bites last year than any other country. Australia was the runner-up with 21 total attacks, five of which were fatal.

Within the U.S., Florida holds the greatest share of shark attacks of any state. About 58% of all historically reported unprovoked bites in the U.S. took place in the Sunshine State.

Hawaii follows with about 11% of the bites, California has 9%, and together the Carolinas account for 12% of the bites.

To see where shark attacks have occurred each year in the U.S., use the scroll bar below.

Are sharks trying to bite you?

Scientists don’t have an explanation for the rare cases where a person gets bitten for no apparent reason, but they say that sharks largely ignore people.

“They’re around people a lot more than they have been before and realize we’re not food,” Lowe said. “We don’t smell like food, we don’t act like food.”

Studies have shown that sharks are not attracted to human blood or menstrual blood. They know the difference between human and fish blood.

When it comes to predicting trends in shark bites, Naylor said that it’s harder than predicting the stock market. Attacks are so rare, and the period of record is so small, that it’s impossible to draw strong statistical conclusions.

So many things impact shark movements, including water temperatures, tides, toxins and human activity.

Different fads, like foiling and windsurfing, put people in new, unexpected areas where sharks may mistake them for a seal.

As for which sharks to watch out for, great white sharks, tiger sharks and bull sharks are the “Big Three” when it comes to unprovoked bites. An unprovoked bite excludes cases where a human initiates contact with the shark, for example, by fishing or trying to feed it.

Naylor also said that blacktip sharks are common off the coast of Florida, but their bites are far less fatal than those of great whites.

How to stay safe

Experts say that it is safe to bring your family to the beach this summer, and that any potential changes in shark behavior due to El Niño are no reason to cancel holiday plans.

Still, if you’re concerned, there are steps you can take to minimize the risk of an attack.

Go to beaches with lifeguards, stay in groups and avoid murky water. Avoid large schools of fish. If fish are jumping out of the water, that means something big is likely chasing them.

Fishers off the coast in California should keep an eye out for increased hammerhead activity this year, and if you’re kayak fishing, keep your arms and legs in the boat. Spearfishers should keep any catches on a stringer far away from them.

Rip currents and drowning are still the biggest risks for any beachgoers this year. Every year, about 4,000 Americans die due to drowning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.