Teenager escaped the jaws of Great White shark

An Australian teenager narrowly escaped the jaws of a 4 foot shark, likely a great white, after being knocked off his surf board and thrown high into the air while out in the ocean.

Fourteen-year-old Zac Skyring was out for an early morning surf on the north-east NSW coast with his father when the shark rammed into the underside of his surfboard, catapulting the teenager into the air.

From about 100 feet (30m) away on the beach his father, Nigel, watched in horror as the incident unfolded. When he saw blood pouring from his son's face he feared the worst, but the board had hit Zac's face, causing his lip to split and bleed heavily.

“He was going up the crest of a wave and just as he got to the top a brown thing came through the water and I saw Zac catapulted into the air” Nigel Skyring told The Times.

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“When I saw the blood coming from his mouth I thought - Oh no, this isn't good.”

Zac escaped with only a few light puncture marks on his lower arm and a ripped wetsuit. One of the shark's teeth had gone through his watchband.

"We were very lucky," Mr Skyring said. "We are a family of very strong environmentalists and we know that we were in their [the sharks'] territory."

Experts will examine the teeth marks in the wetsuit to determine the breed of shark involved in the attack.

Shark expert Michael Brown, the director of Surfwatch Australia, said the details of the attack strongly suggested it was a great white shark and not a bronze whaler as first suspected.

"Bronze whalers don't tend to come up and hit you from underneath like that and there's really only one type of shark that does, the great white," Brown told The Times.

"Great whites have a set hunting procedure. They spot you, come to the surface and have a look. Once they've identified you as potential prey they go deep under the water, about 15m - 20m, before coming up and with all their might, hitting you as hard as possible. They then back off, circle and wait for the prey to bleed to death."

He added that great white sharks are golden in colour on top, which can cause people to misake them for a bronze whaler.

Conditions have been ripe for shark attacks in recent years along the NSW coast, Brown said.

"The last four years have been exceptionally good for bait fish to breed and multiply. With so many bait fish, more and more sharks are coming in close to shore to feed.

"I personally believe this year will be worse than last [for shark attacks]."

Shark Week at the the Oregon Coast Aquarium!

Newport, OR - The Oregon Coast Aquarium and the Discovery Channel will celebrate Shark Week August 2 – August 8 with a variety of events highlighting the fascinating world of sharks. Shark Week spotlights sharks as important members of their ocean habitats, unlike the man-eating monsters portrayed in the movies. Sharks live in oceans around the globe—from warm shallows to the cold, deep sea and even fresh water lakes. All of the sharks exhibited at the Oregon Coast Aquarium are species native to Oregon’s coastal waters. Visitors will meet the sharks from Oregon’s coast in the week-long glimpse into the world of sharks.

During Shark Week, the Discovery Channel will offer a week-long series of feature television programs dedicated to facts on sharks. Sharks and their ancestors have presided over the seas for nearly 400 million years, but in the wild today, shark populations are suffering from human activity. Through habitat destruction and overfishing, humans have become more dangerous to sharks than they are to us. Sharks have been depicted as man-eaters and killers for centuries. The reality is that of the more than 350 species, only a handful pose any threat to humans.

Shark Week Schedule of Activities:

Sunday, August 2

10 am – 5 pm – Gleason Room – Shark Stations – Investigate the world of the shark. Feel real shark skin and touch shark teeth. Take home a shark craft.

11 - 11:15 am – Gleason Room - Dive Interpretive Presentation Open Sea.

11 am - 2:30 pm – Gleason Room – Face Painting

1 - 1:15 pm – Gleason Room – Dive Interpretive Presentation Open Sea.

Monday, August 3

11 - 11:15 am – Gleason Room – Dive Interpretive Presentation Open Sea.

1 - 1:15 pm – Gleason Room – Dive Interpretive Presentation Open Sea.

Tuesday, August 4

Aquarium Theater - Shark video – all day

11 - 11:15 am – Gleason Room – Dive Interpretive Presentation Open Sea.

1 - 1:15 pm – Gleason Room – Dive Interpretive Presentation Open Sea.

Wednesday, August 5

10 am - 5 pm – Gleason Room – Shark Station – Investigate the world of the shark. Feel real shark skin and touch shark teeth. Take home a shark craft.

2 - 2:45 pm – Entrance Courtyard to Passages of the Deep – Shark

Dissection. See one of nature’s coolest creatures from the inside out. Learn all about the anatomy of the shark during this hands-on dissection.

Thursday, August 6

10 am - 5 pm – Gleason Room – Shark Station. Investigate the world of the shark. Feel real shark skin and touch shark teeth. Take home a shark craft

11 -11:15 am – Gleason Room – Dive Interpretive Presentation Open Sea.

11:30 am - 12:15 pm – Theater – Presentation “Sharks – Myths and Misconceptions”

1 - 1:15 pm – Gleason Room – Dive Interpretive Presentation Open Sea.

Friday, August 7

10 am - 5 pm – Gleason Room – Shark Station – Investigate the world of the shark. Feel real shark skin and touch shark teeth. Take home a shark craft.

2 - 2:45 pm – Entrance Courtyard to Passages of the Deep – Shark Dissection. See one of nature’s coolest creatures from the inside out. Learn all about the anatomy of the shark during this hands-on dissection.

Saturday, August 8

10 am - 5:00 pm – Gleason Room – Shark Station – Investigate the world of the shark. Feel real shark skin and touch shark teeth. Take home a shark craft.

11 am - 2:30 pm – Gleason Room – Face Painting.

11 - 11:15 am – Gleason Room – Dive Interpretive Presentation Open Sea.

11:45 am - Noon – Gleason Room – Dive Interpretive Presentation Open Sea.

1 - 1:15 pm – Gleason Room – Dive Interpretive Presentation Open Sea.

1:45 - 2:00 pm – Gleason Room – Dive Interpretive Presentation Open Sea.

Raffle for gift basket of shark items (winner to be announced at the end of the week)

The Oregon Coast Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational attraction dedicated to the highest quality aquatic and marine science programs for recreation and education so the public better understands, cherishes, and conserves the world’s natural marine and coastal resources.

Photo Caption: Celebrate Shark Week at the Oregon Coast Aquarium! The view inside Passages of the Deep (Photo by Cindy Hanson, Oregon Coast Aquarium)

To view Oregon Coast Aquarium's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to: http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-9-Oregon_Coast_Aquarium

Tadam! Tadam! Shark Week is baaaccckkk!!!

The Gulf of Mexico is a fine place to find sharks. According to filmmaker Jeff Kurr, the Gulf is teeming with whale sharks, hammerheads, a lot of bull sharks and some “large aggressive makos.”

He cites the Gulf's biodiversity, making it one of his top sites for filming shark footage. “I've had fishermen tell me they've seen great whites,” he says. “You can count on them being everywhere. They circumnavigate the globe. They're everywhere prey exists.”

Kurr's latest film is Shark After Dark, which airs at 8 p.m. Aug. 6. In the great push/pull tradition of the Discovery Channel's Shark Week, it manages to pull an alarm with one hand while gently urging calm with the other. Casual swimmers aren't likely to find themselves in the great white-infested waters around Seal Island off the coast of South Africa, but Kurr's film finds 15-foot sixgill sharks rising from unthinkable depths to feed at night in Puget Sound, just 150 feet from the shore in Seattle.

There've been no reports of a sixgill attack. But footage of the sharks thrashing around hunks of dead fish are a sufficient nudge to avoid the sound at night.

More than two decades old, the Discovery Channel's Shark Week remains required viewing for a dedicated subset of viewer. The week of programming is a titillating cross between nature film and torture porn with a little environmental morality play thrown in.

Kurr points out the disparity in the number of sharks that killed by humans compared to humans killed by sharks. Still the film includes narration that reminds the usually docile sand tiger shark has been charged with 29 confirmed attacks. Cue unsettling music and don't forget to include a crew member saying things like, “The water is churning with teeth and fins.”

Yet Kurr's passion for filmmaking is a reflection of a viewer's passion for what he finds. Despite the sci fi assertion that space is the final frontier, we've a long way toward scratching the surface with the sea.

“It's the last wild frontier left on Earth,” Kurr says. “Just about all terrestrial animals have been fenced off where we can safely see them. But you go into the water at your local beach, and you're in a complete wilderness. In California it's not beyond the realm of possibility to see a great white 100 feet from a beach.”

Despite often being a victim — tens of millions of sharks are killed each year — the shark makes a compelling villain. It's capable of short violent actions only to disappear in a cloud. And it's surrounded by mystery. So, despite few attacks and fewer fatal attacks, the fairly short period of our interaction with sharks has created a chilling sense of terror that has for less than a century fed books and films.

Kurr points out only three instances of multiple attacks in a single area. There was 2001, tagged the Summer of the Shark in Florida, when several people were attacked (it's worth noting that shark attacks worldwide that year were down from the previous year). There was South Africa in late 1957 and early 1958 when five people were killed in a little more than 100 days.

And the one that started it all was off the coast of New Jersey in 1916, when four people were killed. The attacks, including one in a creek, inspired author Peter Benchley to write Jaws. More recently the book Close to Shore was written about that summer when an increasing number of swimmers took to the water to escape then-record heat. This year's Shark Week includes a sort of faux docudrama called Blood in the Water (8 p.m. Aug. 2) that recounts a week of shark attacks.

The 1916 New Jersey attacks are still the source of our cultural shockwaves regarding sharks. Much is still not known. Some theorize that there were multiple sharks, which Kurr believes. Others think it was one, a theory that gets murky because a great whites doesn't seem like a likely predator in a creek 16 miles inland.

The hysteria of the era is best represented by the fact that one report blamed a sea turtle for the attacks. “People knew nothing about sharks and nothing about the ocean,” Kurr says. “And forensics didn't really exist in those times.”

His theory involves weather patterns that drew schools of bait fish into the shallow water. “It's just what you'd call a sharky year,” he says. “It could've just been sharks chasing fish and accidentally attacking people. But the idea that it was the same one cruising along the coast Jaws-style is scientifically, biologically and behaviorally impossible.”

But the story has a narrative sweep and a sense of genuine terror. It's mysterious and chilling and speaks volumes about our fear and fixation with sharks.

Kurr, who made his own film about the 1916 attacks says “the human reaction was the most interesting part of the whole thing”: Panicked people blasting at the water with dynamite and shotguns.

And where some shark obsessives (like me) prefer to keep the fixation to film and the printed page, the more daring sorts like Kurr throw themselves into the water.

The result plays a little into a deeply rooted cultural fear that started in 1916 and was refreshed in 1975 with the release of the feature film Jaws Steven Spielberg's box-office behemoth.

But Kurr's films are informational first and daredevilry second. He's not above tickling the curiosity of shark gawkers, but he's also keen to clear the water and try to replace some myth with fact.

“We keep discovering interesting behaviors,” he says. “And we haven't been studying sharks all that long. There are a lot of great stories out there, lots that we don't know. I think that's why people are fascinated by sharks.”

Shark victims fight to protect sharks from finning!

Nine shark bite victims presented themselves in Capitol Hill in Washington, to lobby for the support of US Congress to protect wildlife sharks, according to CBS.

The nine people urged Congress to review a loophole that a number of fishermen have been exploiting to get around the shark finning ban.

“Most shark species just can’t reproduce fast enough to sustain the type of commercial fishing that’s going on for them,” said Neil Hammerschlag, who researches sharks in the University of Miami.

A third of shark species are threatened with extinction, with about an estimated 100 million sharks killed every year. Most of these deaths are for the harvesting of shark fins, which is an essential ingredient in shark fin soup, an Asian delicacy.

“You would think that we would all hate sharks,” said Debbie Salamone, one of the shark attack victims.

Actress gets up close and personal with ancestor of Great White shark

ACTRESS LANA WOOD and a 70 FOOT SHARK

West Palm Beach, FL, July 14, 2009 — Hollywood actress Lana Wood, who once played Plenty O’Toole opposite Sean Connery in the James Bond movie, Diamonds Are Forever, was attacked by what eyewitnesses say was a Megalodon, a 70-foot, 70,000 pound prehistoric cousin of the Great White shark. The attack occurred in the waters off the coast of Monterey, California. . .in the pages of New York Times best-selling author Steve Alten’s new release MEG: Hell’s Aquarium.

Lana Wood, a former Playboy centerfold, has an extensive career in the movies, and wrote a best-selling memoir about her late sister, actress Natalie Wood, back in 1986. She contacted Steve Alten a year ago and asked the author to make her a character in his new MEG book, the fourth and best story in the series.

“My grandson and I love shark stories, and we’re both huge fans of the MEG series. I contacted Steve, and he agreed to write me in as a character. I just finished reading the book – oh my gosh, what a thrill ride, I was exhausted by the time I finished it! Steve is the new Peter Benchley, and MEG is JAWS on steroids. And my character’s scene is so scary. . .but you’ll have to read the book to find out if I survive.”

In his review of Hell’s Aquarium, Steve Donoghue, Managing Editor of Open Letters Monthly states, “Alten writes the whole thing in hyperkinetic present tense, with turns and twists in every scene until it squeaks…there’s a scene late in the book involving a shark autopsy that any thriller-writer would give a tonsil to have thought up! The whole thing fizzes with the kind of fun delirium only the most effective giant killer shark novels dare to attempt.”

Lana Wood will be appearing at Comicon in San Diego July 16th – 19^th as a featured guest in a special area that will house the “Women of James Bond.” George Lazenby, who played 007 in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,” will also be appearing. Lana says she will offer free autographs to anyone showing up with a copy of MEG: Hell’s Aquarium.

This year marks Comicon’s 40^th anniversary. Record crowds are expected. Take a look in to Meg_HellsAquarium

Shark novel that should make it on the silver screen

One source of original material Hollywood often turns to is books. Sometimes it’s short stories that are expanded into full length films such as “The Shawshank Redemption.” Most often they are novels. For an example one doesn’t have to look much further than this Wednesday, when “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” is released. That is another reason movie studios often turn to the world of publishing; to acquire works that already have a built-in audience.

The trick is for a studio executive to find something that will translate well into the film medium. A novel that appears on the New York Times Best Seller List is a good place for them to start. Not every novel that has been a best seller becomes a movie. Some should not have been turned into films to begin with; “The Bonfire of the Vanities” would be a perfect example. Then there are some that have not been made into a movie, but should have! A great example of this would be the 1997 Steve Alten novel, “Meg”.

“Meg” is about a carcharodon megalodon impeding on modern times. In simpler terms, it is a prehistoric great white shark that once swam the oceans of our planet. This shark grew in length to as much as 70-feet long, and had teeth as big as one’s fist. To see such a magnificent creature brought to life on the big screen is what summer blockbusters are made of. The back cover quote on the novel from the Los Angeles Times said it all: “Two words: Jurassic Shark”.

It’s been ten years since a movie involving sharks has hit the big screen. In fact, “Deep Blue Sea” was originally green-lighted to compete with “Meg” which was thought to be coming out around the same time. Steve Alten believes a “Meg” movie could be even bigger, “Intellectual Makos cannot compete with a story about the greatest, most frightening predator in history.”

“Meg” also brings something else many studios hope to find: a franchise. Currently there are four “Meg” books in release, with the fourth one, “Meg: Hell’s Aquarium” having been released this past spring. A fifth novel in the series is also planned. Can this become a successful franchise? The author addresses this issue as well, “Absolutely. The books get better as they go on. So it’s not like “Jaws”, which was a brilliant book and movie, followed by non-Benchley sequels that got silly.” It’s a little scary to imagine if J.K. Rowling just wrote the first Harry Potter novel which became the beloved film, and then afterwards, someone else came along to make movie sequels.

While “Deep Blue Sea” did modest business, it was an R-rated film. While these movies would involve this giant shark eating humans, they can easily be made into PG-13 films without losing any of the impact of the novel. Just imagine a surfer surfing directly into the mouth of this monster. The original novel included many exciting sequences involving this massive creature, including a climax that features feeding frenzy never before seen at the cinema.

Another plus for this potential film is that it can be looked upon as a “monster movie.” Except in this case, it is about a monster that once existed. Steve Alten, as Peter Benchley did with his novel “Jaws”, wrote the screenplay along with one of the producers, and proclaims that the movie will be even better than the novel. Many believe the film version of “Jaws” was better than the book too. If the film can attract the right director and cast, it’s hard to imagine it failing at the box office.

Apelles Entertainment recently got involved with bringing this great book to a movie theater near you. Hopefully it will all pan out. Mr. Alten tells how gratifying it would be to finally see his first work at a Hollywood premiere, “Not a week has gone by in 13 years where I did not imagine myself walking down a red carpet with my family and friends. Even more so, I want to see the movie made for my loyal readers.” The author has named characters after many of his fans. Something former Bond girl, Lana Wood took part in the latest novel. Some of these fans may see their namesakes on the big screen.

If Steve Alten’s dream comes true for himself and his fans, movie audiences around the world are in for a great ride in the theater.

Three Great White shark sightings in San Onofre!

San Onofre State Beach -- On June 7, 2009 Kevin Rust and several unidentified companions were surfing North of Old Man's, San Onofre State Beach. Air and water temperatures were estimated in the mid-70s and 60s Fahrenheit, respectively. The sky was clear with a mild 1 - 2 knot North-West breeze. It was 7:30 PM and they had been on the water about 2.5 hours. Several Dolphins were observed in the area prior to the encounter. The ocean was glassy calm going to high tied with 2 - 3 foot waves. The water was 8 - 10 feet deep with a primarily rocky ocean floor and some scattered vegetation. Rust recalled; "A few friends and I had been surfing for about 2.5 hours just a peak or so North of Old Man's peak at the San Onofre State Beach, along with the 40 or so other people there at the time. We were sitting in the line up about 100 yards off shore around 7:30 when a 4 - 5 foot Great White Shark jumped out of the water. It was about 50 feet away, farther out. It leaped about 3 feet into the air, came completely out of the water with its belly facing us, and crashed down ungracefully on its side. The belly was white, vertical tail, and a v-ed nose. No one really panicked. It was more awe factor than anything. We just pulled our hands and feet out of the water, made a couple straggler jokes, and that was that. It never resurfaced or made another appearance. I read Redmond's encounter for July 7, and it was the same circumstances, behavior etc., just 5.5 hours later. Same spot, I'll bet even the same shark." Please report any shark sighting, encounter, or attack to the Shark Research Committee.

San Onofre State Beach -- On June 7, 2009 Rudy Fontes was surfing at 'The Point ,' San Onofre State Beach. It was 7:15 - 7:30 PM and he had been on the water about 90 minutes. The water was 8 - 10 feet deep with a cobblestone reef bottom and an estimated temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit. The sky was clear with a light breeze and a air temperature in the mid-70s Fahrenheit. The ocean was glassy calm with a 3 - 4 foot swell. Fontes reported; "I had been surfing, but was now waiting in the line-up, maybe 100 yards off shore, between sets and looking out to the horizon. There were maybe a dozen others within 30 yards of me when an estimated 6 foot White Shark hit the surface of the water and became completely air borne above the water, maybe 5 feet above the surface. Its belly was facing all of us and you could see the shape of its mouth (jaw) very clearly. It was moving wildly as if it was attacking a fish or something from below the surface. an awesome site and we were all 'buzzzzing' for a while, never seen that before. I guess it swam off, that was the last of it." Please report any shark sighting, encounter, or attack to the Shark Research Committee.

San Onofre State Beach -- On July 7, 2009 Parker Redmond was surfing 'The Point' at San Onofre. It was 2:00 PM and he had been on the water about 10 minutes. Air and water temperatures were estimated in the low 70s and 60s Fahrenheit respectively. The sea was 'choppy' with a 2 - 4 foot South swell. Redmond recalled; " I was looking off towards Lowers and saw a 4 - 5 foot White Shark leap about 4 feet out of the water. Its tail was inverted just like the Discovery Channel sharks. I knew instantly what I had seen. It had a white underbelly and its back was grey. About 20 minutes after the shark breach 2 Dolphins cruised through the line-up. That made my encounter seem even more absurd, but I promise you it was definitely a White Shark." Please report any shark sighting, encounter, or attack to the Shark Research Committee.

Shark Week is BACK really SOOOOON!!!

People have long been fascinated with the ocean’s most vicious predator, but before 1916, average people knew very little about sharks. It was that year the New Jersey shore became a feeding ground and five people were attacked in 12 days triggering nationwide panic. It was the first multiple shark attack in American history and the reason sharks are feared to this day. BLOOD IN THE WATER is a gripping two-hour docudrama that brings to life the true story that inspired ‘Jaws’, and kicks SHARK WEEK 2009 on Sunday, August 2, at 9 p.m. ET / PT.

During SHARK WEEK 2009 viewers can find out what makes certain areas of the world shark-attack “hot spots”; if sharks behave differently during the day than at night; and what still puzzles scientists about the most feared shark of them all — the Great White.

Beginning July 15, viewers can surf online (if they dare!) for more information at discoverychannel.ca/sharkweek. The robust site will feature:

· Interactive Map: Shark Attacks
· Daily “Shark” Discoveries
· Backgrounders and Photo Galleries
· Exclusive Video

Companion SHARK WEEK programming will be rounded out with even more fascinating and terrifying shark shows on Discovery HD and Animal Planet. Each night at 7 p.m. ET / 10 p.m. PT, Discovery HD will air one hour of shark-related programming such as the premiere of HOW NOT TO BECOME SHARK BAIT and encore presentation of SHARK FEEDING FRENZY. Over on Animal Planet, August 3-7 at 10 p.m. ET / 11 p.m. PT, SHARK WEEK programming includes a premiere episode of EATEN ALIVE: KILLER SHARKS on Wednesday, August 5.

SHARK WEEK 2009 – Discovery Channel Premiere Schedule

BLOOD IN THE WATER (1 x 120)
Sunday, August 2 at 9 p.m. ET / 9 p.m. PT
The true story behind the bloody shark attacks of 1916 that inspired the movie ‘Jaws’. A nine-foot long shark cruises just off the New Jersey beaches. For centuries its ancestors have done exactly the same. But today there’s unusual company. Human Beings.

DAY OF THE SHARK 1 (1 x 60)
Monday, August 3 at 8 p.m. ET / 9 p.m. PT
Experts explore the science behind what triggers sharks to attack at certain times of day, and what rules humans should follow to avoid incident.

DEADLY WATER (1 x 60)
Tuesday, August 4 at 8 p.m. ET / 9 p.m. PT
SURVIVORMAN’s Les Stroud is back for more nail biting - shark chomping action, and this time, he’s taking on the deadliest waters around the world. His quest is simple – which water is the deadliest?

DAY OF THE SHARK 2 (1 x 60)
Wednesday, August 5 at 8 p.m. ET / 9 p.m. PT
In this harrowing hour, see what happens when a Great White breaks through a 300-pound aluminum shark cage and traps the divers inside, or when another tackles a former Navy Seal in shallow waters in the early evening in St. Petersburg, Florida.

GREAT WHITE APPETITE (1 x 60)
Thursday, August 6 at 8 p.m. ET / 9 p.m. PT
The Great White is one of the most feared predators on earth as well as one of its most efficient hunters. The Great White Shark patrols the shores of more than fifty percent of the world’s inhabited coastlines, and despite having killed thousands of people, we know almost nothing about them.

SHARK AFTER DARK (1 x 60)
Thursday, August 6 at 9 p.m. ET / 10 p.m. PT
A team of divers descends into the dangerous after-dark hunting ground of sharks.

Sharks are most aggressive and most active in the dark, but the fact is, we know very little else about the nocturnal nature of these creatures.

SHARKBITE SUMMER (1 x 60)
Friday, August 7 at 8 p.m. ET / 9 p.m. PT
The bite-by-bite account of America's notorious "Summer of the Shark" in 2001.

Two Great White sharks caught in fishing nets of Korean coast

To Koreans, an attack by sharks as in ``Jaws'' used to be something that happened in other countries far away from here. But it may not be so now, as sharks have been seen along the coasts here in recent months.

The National Fisheries Research and Development Institute has warned vacationers visiting beaches to pay attention to sharks between May and September, saying the country is no longer a shark-free region.

The growing danger is due to rising sea temperatures and the expansion of warm currents to the peninsula. ``With the warm currents flowing toward the country, sharks' prey such as mackerel and squid, are coming to the coast, and sharks are following them,'' Kim Jung-nyun, a researcher at the institute, said.

Korea used to have reports of sharks in the Yellow Sea and sometimes off southern shores as well, but now sharks are found in the East Sea even though temperatures are relatively lower _ in February and March, two great white sharks were caught in fishing nets near Mukho Port, measuring 3.5 and 4.7 meters in length, respectively, and weighing 1 and 1.5 tons.

``Two sharks were caught in the early spring, even though the seawater temperature was not that high. Korea now needs to prepare for possible danger from sharks,'' Kim said.

According to the institute, great whites, shortfin makos, hammerheads, copper sharks and whale sharks are likely to appear off the Korean coast.

``On the west coast, there were six deaths from shark attacks over the last 20 years, and most of the victims were women divers. Korea has not had a report yet of a shark attack on a swimmer on the beach, but beach management authorities are coming up with preventive measures,'' Kim said.

Haeundae Beach in Busan, one of the most popular summer vacation spots, recently bought shark-repelling devices from Australia. The device, to be attached to jet skis, emits pulses of a 5-meter radius for six to seven hours, and can be used 45 meters below sea level.

Those enjoying leisure pursuits on the seashore, such as scuba divers, are advised to be careful. ``People are advised not to swim alone; at night; and when they are bleeding. When encountering a shark, they should not provoke it even if it is a small one, but just should get back to the beach quietly. It is also advisable for divers to tie ropes or belts on their ankles to make themselves look longer and bigger, as sharks do not attack an object larger than themselves,'' he said.

He also said that when a shark attacks, people are advised to hit its nose, where sensory organs are gathered, with wooden or iron poles, and then it will swim away.

By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr

Shark Week is back this summer!

Photo:Discovery Channel

Shark Week returns to the Discovery Channel on Sunday, August 9, 2009 at 9PM ET/PT. The annual seven day programming event kicks off with “Blood in the Water”. “Blood in the Water” is a two hour tale, focusing on how in the year 1916 in a period of less than two weeks, five people suffered attacks by sharks on the shores of New Jersey.

If you are a long standing fan of Shark Week and expect that you may have already seen all that it has to offer, fear not. For 2009, Shark Week will integrate six new premieres into its outstanding selection of previously aired features focusing on sharks. If you have never tuned into this series of shows before, then you will receive the privilege of experiencing some of the most amazing marine footage ever recorded, from a fresh perspective. In 2008, 29.1 million people watched Shark Week, an increase of approximately 6.5 percent from the previous year.

The programming schedule will include nightly broadcasts of information intended to educate viewers on shark conservation. These segments will be produced in a joint effort between the Discovery Channel and the marine conservation organization, Ocean Conservancy. In 2003, National Geographic reported that a group of scientists conducting a study that centered on the review of 15 years of fishing logbooks, came to the conclusion that all but two of the 17 shark species included in the study had seen their numbers slashed nearly in half in less than two decades. In 2007, a Foxnews.com report stated that "Large sharks have been functionally eliminated from the East Coast of the U.S., meaning that they can no longer perform their ecosystem role as top predators”

The Discovery Channel will also provide a complex interactive website at discovery.com/sharkweek, where enthusiasts can enjoy such features as live blogging, a video mixer, Facebook content, quizzes and a shark based, interactive alternate reality game.

If you wish to see a shark up close, here is a venue in Montauk that allows adventurous Long Islanders to observe these majestic creatures in their natural environment:

http://www.ecophotoexplorers.com/MontaukCageDiving.asp

Shark Week on the Discovery Channel

Shark Week premieres on the Discovery Channel on August 09, 2009 at 9PM ET/PT.

View Slideshow »

Author: Marc Ciborowski

Marc Ciborowski is an Examiner from Long Island. You can see Marc's articles on Marc's Home Page.

A woman donates shark tooth that belonged to the ancestor of the Great White shark

Photo 1 of 1 | Zoom Photo +

Diann Barber of Hampton Beach shows off her remarkably preserved shark tooth which she found on the beach and scientists believe came from a 40-million-year-old ancestor of the great white shark. Scott Yates photo. 4-24-09Scott Yates/syates@seacoastonlin

HAMPTON — The woman who found a rare fossilized Great White shark tooth at Hampton Beach has decided to donate what she calls the "find of her lifetime" to the University of New Hampshire.

"What was I going to do with it?" asked 63-year-old Diann Barber, who lives on the beach. "It would just sit in a drawer and I would take it out every once and a while and say 'Oh wow.'"

Hunt Howell of the Coastal Marine Laboratory at UNH accepted the donation of the tooth last week and told Barber the university will use it for educational purposes as well as keep it on display in the Rudman Biological Science Building.

"I just think that is the coolest thing," Barber said. "Now when my kids, grandkids come up I can send them to the university to check out the tooth I found. It's a good feeling to be able to have done that."

Barber called donating the tooth the end of an incredible journey.

She found the fossilized shark tooth several months ago while searching for sea glass along the shore of Hampton Beach.

What appeared to be an odd looking sea shell, she said, turned out to be a tooth of some kind.

"Something made me go back and pick it up," Barber said. "I didn't know what it was.

"You find all kinds of things at the beach you never expect to see — beer tabs, cigarette butts, condoms — but not a shark's tooth?" she said.

After the "find," her husband, Bill Levis, said his wife spent countless hours researching what kind of tooth it was, even asking the advice of a shark expert form the Smithsonian Institution.

"I haven't seen her this excited about something in a long time," said Levis.

David Bohaska at the Smithsonian aided in identifying the tooth by having Robert W. Purdy, a retired museum specialist, who is an expert on fossilized sharks, take a look at it.

"He confirmed that it is carcharodon carcharias, the Great White shark," Bohaska said. "Bob tells me that this species is known from the Miocene Epoch (about 15 million years ago) to the present."

Exactly how old it is and how it got to Hampton Beach is still the question.

Bohaska said it's hard to pinpoint the age of the tooth because Barber found it on the shore. If it was found encrusted in rocks or cliff, it would have been easier to pinpoint a rough time frame.

In general it takes approximately 10,000 years for a tooth to become a true fossil, he said.

Barber said she has enjoyed learning about sharks.

"I called it doing my homework," Barber said. "It was really cool to learn about how long ago it existed and how large the animal was. I'm sad that it's all over.

"I temporarily had it wrapped around my neck because it was kind of a spiritual thing because it is so old and rare," she said. "This was a really cool journey that will be in my heart always. It was a unique experience in my life."

In return for her donation, Barber received a Wildcats sweatshirt and also a mug with a photo of the tooth that she found on it. She also received a nice thank you letter from Howell.

Barber said she still walks the beach every day looking for her next find.

"I doubt that I will find anything as cool as the shark tooth, but you never know," Barber said.

"A lot of people say lightning doesn't strike twice. Well, I know someone who was struck by lighting twice. So who knows?" she said.

"There is always something to find at Hampton Beach," Barber said. "Maybe there is another treasure waiting for me."

By Patrick Cronin

pcronin@seacoastonline.com

June 23, 2009 6:00 AM

United Kingdom could end up with several changes by 2080, including the visits of Great White sharks

Great white sharks could be regular visitors to the coast by the 2080s, where they could find more bathers enjoying the Mediterranean climate. Photograph: Martin Barraud/Getty

Public health

The Department of Health predicts about 1,000 more heat-related deaths each year by the 2020s, mainly among sick and elderly people, rising to 2,800 by the 2080s. Warmer weather could help stomach bugs to thrive, and could see an extra 14,000 cases of food poisoning by the 2080s. But warmer winters are expected to save many people from cold-related deaths, with numbers down 14,000 by the 2020s and 29,000 by the 2080s. Malaria could appear in Britain by mid-century if mosquitoes flourish, but is unlikely to pose a major threat. But increased exposure to ultra-violet light beneath cloudless skies could cause 2,000 extra cases of cataracts each year and 30,000 more cases of skin cancer by the 2050s.

Agriculture

Current levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are below the optimum for photosynthesis, so rising carbon emissions could boost growth and yields in the short-term. Longer growing seasons could help too, but drier summers could hit grass production and, without irrigation, some parts of the country could become too dry for many crops. By the 2050s, yields of winter wheat could rise by a quarter, though these gains might be threatened by pests and weeds that could flourish in the new climate. Oilseed rape may struggle, but the range of sunflowers and maize could spread northwards to take its place. By the 2080s, English wine growers could harvest French grape varieties on the slopes of the Lake District.

Wildlife

The range of many plants and animals will shift northwards with the changing weather, but some may be unable to make the journey unaided. Beech trees that find it too warm on the south coast within a few decades might need humans to plant saplings further north, and butterflies squeezed north towards cooler climes could find their route blocked by a shortage of suitable habitat in the midlands. The situation in the sea is simpler, and more octopus and squid could appear in the English Channel and southern waters, as cold water species such as cod head away. Great white sharks could be regular visitors to the coast by the 2080s, where they could find more bathers enjoying the Mediterranean climate.

People

British holidays could boom, but increased visitor numbers could spell problems for footpaths in already overrun and eroded National Parks such as the Lake District. So could heavier winter rainfall. Cafe culture in cities such as Manchester could blossom, but would people be willing to brave the summer heat? By the 2080s, officials may be forced to rejig the school year, with July and August simply too hot for traditional summer holidays. Climate refugees from increasingly arid and drought-struck southern Europe could head towards UK shores.

Sea level and flooding

Ice caps and glaciers do not need to melt for sea level to rise – warmer temperatures are enough because the sea water expands. By the 2020s, this thermal expansion could raise global sea level by 6cm. But the increase around the UK will not be even because the bedrock beneath is gradually tilting, with the south-east sinking. By the 2080s, sea level could be 70cm higher at the southern end of the UK and 50cm up along the northern coast. An estimated 2 million people will be at risk of flooding and there will be a 17-fold increase in flood risk along the east coast. London could face a £25bn clean up bill after a freak storm surge overwhelms the Thames barrier.

When will finning sharks become illegal EVERYWHERE?

A letter was published recently in the Bangkok Post's Postbag about shark fin soup and how the writer was disgusted with the fact that the Bangkok Post had previously mentioned that shark fin soup was available at various restaurants throughout Bangkok.

The writer thought that the Bangkok Post was advocating the sale of shark fin soup and was horrified that it would do such a thing. I confess I never read the article, but I do have very strong feelings on the matter.

Simply put, finning - the act of cutting off a shark's fins for the shark fin soup trade - is appalling. Not only is it barbaric, it is an eco-catastrophe of humongous proportions.

Finning for soup

There are around 50 million sharks killed by humans each year, but that may be a conservative estimate, given the existence of the illegal fishing trade. There may well be many more millions killed, especially for their fins.

When a shark is caught for its fins, it is hauled onto a boat, where its dorsal, pectoral and tail fins are removed. Then it is thrown back into the ocean, often alive, and left to bleed to death, drown or be eaten alive by other fishes. This is wanton brutality.

The worst thing about shark fin soup is that it is happening because of a status issue. Many Chinese eat shark fin soup as a sign of elitism, and it is often served at special occasions like weddings, birthday parties and business dinners. And the irony of it all is that it has no real taste!

The fin is cooked until it breaks down into its cartilaginous threads, a little like transparent noodles. It has flavour only because it is cooked in beef or vegetable stock.

Some people argue that a shark fin has medicinal value, but no scientist would ever confirm this. As is always the case with barbaric wildlife abuses, when the buying stops, the killing can too.

Evolutionary peak

Sharks and rays represent evolution at its finest. They are a branch of fish known as cartilaginous fish, as their support system is composed of cartilage, not bones, unlike the bony fish you may be familiar with.

There are over 360 known species of shark and they have been around in their modern form for about 100 million years. Based on fossil evidence, sharks and their ancestors have been on earth for around 420 million years.

All sharks are carnivorous, with most being streamlined and sleek for quick swimming when hunting. Although many people have a fear of sharks, arguably due to the Jaws movies, the vast majority of sharks are not harmful to humans.

The largest shark species is the whale shark, measuring up to an incredible 12m in length, making it the largest fish in the ocean. Yet despite its size, it eats tiny krill and other small invertebrates. The second-largest shark, the basking shark, is also harmless and is a filter feeder like the whale shark.

The largest predatory shark is the great white shark. It can grow to over 6m and has been known to kill people, but surprisingly, the number of deaths is much less than you would imagine. Other sharks that have been known to prey on humans include the oceanic whitetip shark, the tiger shark and the bull shark.

Despite these apparently ferocious animals living in our seas, oceans and, in the case of bull sharks, even rivers, there are only about four to five human deaths per year. Compare that to the over 50 million shark deaths caused by humans, and then ask yourselves who the real predators are.

Odd adaptations

With over 360 species, there is still a lot to be discovered about sharks. Some strange shark species include the dwarf lanternshark, which is the smallest known species, with adults rarely exceeding 20cm in length!

There is also the very odd-looking wobbegong shark, which lies motionless on the bottom of the sea, waiting for any passing fish to strike at. Although this doesn't quite fit the streamlined approach common to many sharks, it is still an efficient predator.

The 7m Greenland shark is a huge deep-ocean monster. Although not harmful to humans and very sluggish, it does feed on large mammals. Strangely, in all the Greenland shark adults, there is a parasitic copepod, a small crustacean, which attaches itself to the cornea of the eyes of the shark and feeds on the eye tissue! This makes the sharks nearly blind, yet they all have them!

A strange adaptation of sharks is that they don't have a swim bladder. This means that if they stop swimming they will sink! Many also have to constantly swim in order to obtain oxygen through their gills. Many beaches have shark nets to prevent sharks from getting to swimmers, and sharks that get caught in them often drown. It seems odd that you can drown a fish, but, sadly, it is true.

The skin of sharks is covered with teeth-like structures. If you rub a shark from head to tail, it will feel smooth, but if you stroke its skin in the opposite direction the skin will feel very rough and can even cut your hand! These dermal denticles reduce water resistance while the shark is swimming.

Shark's teeth constantly replace themselves throughout the life of the animal. They have many layers of teeth that rotate to the edge of their mouth, kind of like a conveyor belt. When the teeth get old or become worn out, the new rows of teeth behind simply roll forward and take their place. Therefore, sharks can have thousands of teeth in their lifetime, all of which are shaped and adapted to the kinds of food the shark eats.

Sharks have a sixth sense and are sensitive to electrical impulses. They have electroreceptor organs in their heads, allowing them to detect the movements of fish.

The most stunning example of an adaptation in the animal kingdom is arguably the hammerhead shark. It is the most sensitive animal in the world to electrical impulses. Its sensors are located all across the front of its oddly shaped head. It uses them to sense the impulses given off by a struggling fish.

The most bizarre feature of sharks is that if you turn them upside down, they go into a state of torpor, a kind of sleep!

Shark researchers often catch sharks and turn them upside down so that they can record information relating to the creatures without having to drug them. There are even people who try to do this with great whites, but it is not an easy task!

Dave Canavan has an MSc in Behavioural Ecology and is the Head of Secondary at Garden International School. Dave is fascinated by science and loves animals, especially the dangerous kind! You may contact Dave at davidc@gardenbangkok.com .

By: DAVID CANAVAN

Published: 16/06/2009 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: Learningpost

Korean Peninsula is now protected by electric device repelling sharks

On top left is a shark-repelling device which Haeundae Beach in Busan will adopt next month, while top right is a scuba diver who has the device attached to his ankle. Bottom is an image of the device attached to a buoy. / Yonhap

Haeundae Beach in Busan, one of the nation's most famous summer vacation destinations, will use a device to drive away sharks, for the first time in Korea.

The measure comes after the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute warned of great white sharks off the coast here between May and September when the warm current flows to the Korean Peninsula.

The Busan Metropolitan City Fire Department said Monday that it will buy the shark repelling device from Australia and use it at the beach, which opens July 1.

``A shark catches preys by feeling a weak electric current from them. The device emits a very strong electric pulse to disorientate sharks,'' an official of the department said.

The 950-gram device can be attached to scuba diving gear apparatus, jet skis or buoys.

With batteries, it gives out electric pulses with about a 5-meter radius for six to seven hours, and can be used up to 45 meters below sea level.

The department will adopt three of the devices this year and attach them to patrol jet skis.

``Haeundae has never had a shark sighting before, but there are chances of it because of the rise in seawater temperatures caused by global warming,'' the official said.

By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr

Great White shark's close encounter with teenage surfers in New South Wales!

A group of teenagers on the New South Wales far south coast say they'll keep surfing despite a big white pointer shark crusing the area.

The young surfers came within a metre of the 5m to 6m shark that has been sighted between Merimbula's bar and Pambula Beach over the past week.

One of the surfer's fathers, Pambula Surf Lifesaving President Don Hay says the boys were unsettled by the incident but realise it is a risk they take.

"As the boys said, if it'd wanted to eat them, they couldn't have done anything about it", he said.

"So it was obvious that the shark saw them and didn't realise it was dinner time, I suppose, which is obviously a great thing".

Jessica Alba will not be charged for vandalizing advertising to raise awareness of Great White sharks

Jessica Alba will not be prosecuted for her role in vandalizing a Lamar Advertising in a stunt to raise awareness of the dwindling great white shark, according to the AP.

The actress had plastered a Lamar board — being used by charity group United Way — with a giant picture of a great white. The protest was organized by blogger White Mike, who travels the country plastering shark pictures everywhere in hopes of getting people to sympathize with the scary but endangered beasts.

After complaints came in, Alba — no guerilla activist, she! — immediately apologized:

I got involved in something I should have had no part of … I realize that I should have used better judgment, and I regret not thinking things through before I made a spontaneous and ill-advised decision to let myself get involved with the people behind this campaign. I sincerely apologize to the citizens of Oklahoma City and to the United Way for my involvement in this incident.

Oklahoma City’s Parks and Rec Dept filed a complaint with police and photos of Alba committing the act appeared briefly — and where then removed — on White Mike’s blog.

To add insult to injury, the board had been donated to United Way by Lamar for free. The AP:

Lamar Advertising, which owns the billboard, also said the company doesn’t plan to pursue charges, said Bill Condon, general manager and vice president of the company’s Oklahoma City office.

“I think her comment and what she released seemed pretty sincere,” Condon said.

Three sharks caught off the Malta coast were mistaken as Great White sharks

Three sharks which Maltese fishermen recently caught close to the island were wrongly described as great whites even if they were the much smaller and less infamous short-fin makos.

Inspectors from the Malta Environment and Planning Authority investigated claims about the catch and found it was not the case, a Mepa spokesman said.

Besides the effect the report could have on bathers and tourists wanting to visit the islands given the bad reputation these marine predators have been given, catching great whites is illegal because the species is protected.

The reports originated from a chain e-mail, which spoke of great whites having been caught but actually carrying an image of a Mako caught four years ago, shark enthusiast Alex "Sharkman" Buttigieg, said.

The last great white catch recorded in Malta was the much-publicised female that was fished in 1987 by Alfredo Cutajar.

Sharks rarely swam into Maltese waters and, when they did, they generally did not approach the shore, Mr Buttigieg said.

He pointed out that, although all shark populations in the Mediterranean were dwindling due to over fishing, the mako was not protected. Other sharks, like the angle, were in much more immediate need of protection.

In fact, Shark Alliance, a coalition of non-governmental organisations dedicated to science-based conservation of sharks, which Mr Buttigieg forms part of, was lobbying for better protection at EU level.

Earlier this year the EU announced a plan of action for the conservation and management of sharks. The plan protects sharks from finning, the practice of killing sharks for their fins, which are used for an oriental soup. Although there was no finning in Malta, there was no guarantee that there would never be, Mr Buttigieg said.

Shark fishing has been growing rapidly since the mid-1980s, mainly driven by expanding demand from Asian markets. Between 1984 and 2004 world catches of sharks grew from 600,000 to over 810,000 metric tonnes annually. The EU fleet now takes about 100,000 tonnes of sharks and related species each year.

The Sharks brothers will offer a "Sharks Clinic" to kids in order to demystify sharks

The Shark Brothers - actual blood brothers who share the same last name - will present "Sharkstravaganza" at a free children's clinic in the Bay Walk area at noon Saturday as part of 2009 Shark Fest today and Sunday on Fort Myers Beach.

Sean and Brooks Paxton are catch, tag and release shark fishing specialists from North Port. The brothers are known for their biography on Frank "the Monsterman" Mundus, the Captain Quint character on which the movie "Jaws" was based. Mundus was the captain of the Cricket II boat that was responsible for the largest shark ever caught on rod and reel. Angler Donnie Braddick caught the 3,427 pound great white shark.

"Our underlying theme and goal of this is for people to come down and leave with a greater understanding, broader appreciation and respect for these animals," the brothers Paxton agreed.

The Paxton Brothers will show some of the memorabilia they have collected from the show as well as a Monsters from the Deep traveling exhibit. They also will entertain festival goers with a shark show and tell.

They will have some special artifacts and specimens including teeth from the largest shark ever caught. They will pass around skin samples of sharks because they are made up of millions of tiny little teeth. They'll have tiger jaws that were proven to be responsible for several attacks in Hawaii in the 1990s. They'll also have lots of video that supports the type of work they do and footage of the largest shark ever caught on rod and reel.

The brothers will be indirectly involved in the Are You Man Enough Shark Challenge 3, the catch-and-release shark tournament where teams of anglers from around the country begin their full moon, overnight competition at 8 p.m. Saturday to grab the prize for the biggest catch.

With the format change to all catch-and-release, they will go out before the tournament and pre-tag and release five sharks. Those tags will have cash and prize awards attached. So, should an angler catch one of those sharks and snip that tag off and retrieve it, they can win big money in cash and prizes.

The tagging process does not harm the sharks.

They will use platform boats using traditional methods like circle hooks, line and bait where one of the two will use a tag stick with tags specifically provided by the National Marine Fishery Service. The tag will be applied to the skin right next to the dorsal fin, "sort of like a shot for a human being with the same amount of discomfort."

The Shark Brothers then explained what happens if the tagged shark doesn't get hooked and the tag remains on its skin.

If the tags are not retrieved, the benefit is that these tags will go into an international data base for the National Marine Fishery Service to propagate shark research, they said.

Shark Fest 2009

Tournament Director Jack Donlon - also the festival founder- and the Bay Walk Group at Times Square are hosting the inaugural Shark Fest, a combination boat show, street fair and shark contest. On Saturday and Sunday, Old San Carlos Boulevard will be closed from 3rd Street to the waterfront to make room for new and used boats that will be on display on land as well as the Back Bay during the festival; more than 80 vendors featuring nautical, educational and shark merchandise; live bands; a bounce house for the kids; and a mechanical shark ride for the adults.

The Bay Walk Group - including Snug Harbor Waterside Restaurant; The Matanzas Inn and Waterfront Restaurant; The Smokin Oyster Brewery; The Yucatan Beach Bar & Grill; The Ship Wreck Motel and Treasures; and Surf Pie - will run specials during the weekend at their respective businesses.

The Yucatan Beach Stand, one restaurant in the group, will be having a MAKO Vodka promotion as well as Landshark beer specials, live entertainment, giveaways and JAWS trivia on both days of the event.

"We at the Yucatan are pleased with the recent changes to event making it more eco-friendly," said Yucatan General Manager Stevie DeAndelis. "The open container law has been relaxed so festival goers can stroll through the event grounds and see all the festival has to offer and enjoy a cold beverage at the same time. As a member of the Bay Walk Group, the Yucatan looks forward to more festivals and family friendly events in this venue."

Snug Harbor Waterside Restaurant, another Bay Walk eatery, will have a festival booth on the fountain side of his restaurant for take-out fare.

"It really is exciting to be able to use this space for the first time it was designed to be used," said Snug Harbor General Manager Mickey Ferry. "Under the gazebo, there will be a 12-foot (SharkTron) screen. The anglers will bring their picture and video cards (for viewing). People can see what is going on at the tournament."

Top beaches for shark attacks...including Great White sharks!

North America is home to dozens of beaches where swimmers and sharks intermix, even though the humans may never know it.

According to George Burgess, an ichthyologist at the University of Florida who maintains a database called the International Shark Attack File. When the rare attack happens it's usually a predatory mistake. "In the surf zone, where many attacks happen, sharks need to make quick decisions," he said. "Humans on surfboards-hands splashing, feet kicking - can trigger a shark to think there's trouble or a wounded animal, and it looks like an easy meal."

But according to Laleh Mohajerani, executive director of the shark conservation organization Iemanya Oceanica, sharks are not looking to interfere with humans in the water. Our shark-attack fears are irrational, she said. "You are more likely to be hit by lightning."

Indeed, there's no arguing the numbers. Of the millions of people who enter the ocean each year, almost none are touched.

But for most people, fiery emotions override even the coldest numbers. A single scary story - be it on the news or in an effects-heavy Hollywood production - will destroy the efforts of hundreds of scientists trying to communicate on research and logic.

Take a dip if you dare.

New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
Due to its thousands of annual - as well as its toothy inhabitants that hunt offshore - New Smyrna is the shark attack capital of the world. That's according to the International Shark Attack File, which cites 210 attacks in the beach's home county of Volusia, Fla. But miles of white sand and consistent surf breaks continue to draw vacationers and locals alike into New Smyrna's waters.

North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii
No. 2 on the International Shark Attack File for unprovoked attacks is Oahu, where tiger sharks, Galapagos sharks and sandbar sharks congregate in high numbers, especially near beaches on the island's north shore. This doesn't stop surfers, who flock to Velzyland Beach, the Leftovers Break and dozens of additional wave-beaten beaches where sharks search and swim.

Long Beach Island, N.J.
Source material for "Jaws," a 1974 novel by Peter Benchley - and later a movie by Steven Spielberg - came from incidents at this New Jersey beach in 1916. In an unprecedented 11 days, five major shark attacks took place along the Jersey Shore, four of which were fatal. Reports cited blood turning the water red and sharks following victims toward the beach. Today, sharks are rare, but the legend lives on in the surf and swells of these tepid Atlantic waters.

Stinson Beach, Calif.
In the shadow of Marin County's Mt. Tamalpais, Stinson Beach is a spot where great white sharks swim into the shallows. Patric Douglas, owner of Shark Diver, an ocean guiding outfit in San Francisco, said he has sighted them at Stinson - which is a neighboring stretch of sand east from Bolinas Beach (No. 3 on the list)- in less than 20 feet of water. "They're coming to feed on seals, though it's not uncommon for surfers to see them," he said.

Beaches of Brevard County, Fla.
In the past 100 years, there have been 90 reported shark confrontations on beaches in this county on Florida's east coast. Visitors head east from Orlando to the ocean to dip toes in the tepid waters at Cocoa Beach, Jetty Park and Klondike Beach, a 24-mile-long wilderness beach accessible only by foot in Canaveral National Seashore preserve.

Horry County, S.C.
South Carolina has seen more than 50 total shark attacks over the past century, according to the International Shark Attack File. Of those, 16 attacks are recorded off the beaches of Horry County, where the town of Myrtle Beach is famous as a tourist destination. The good news: The International Shark Attack File cites no fatal shark attacks in South Carolina since 1852.

Solana Beach, Calif.
A freak great-white attack in 2008 at Solana Beach in San Diego County, Calif., killed a 66-year-old swimmer. He was on a morning swim, training with a group when the attack occurred. Solana Beach, home to a population of seals, is at the periphery of the corridor where great sharks commonly roam.

By Stephen Regenold, Forbes Traveler