Sharks & Surfing

New rules aim to protect great whites from visitors

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 30 November, 2008 : - - For most people, the mere presence of a 20-foot, 5,000-pound great white shark would be enough to keep them out of the water. At the Farallon Islands, however, tourists and thrill-seekers pay as much as $875 for the privilege of seeing one of the ocean's greatest predators from the safety of an underwater cage.

New regulations proposed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration could change that, however, by making it illegal for boats to approach within 50 meters of a shark - about half the length of a football field - and banning the practice of using decoys to lure sharks within the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.

Sanctuary officials say they're responding to concerns by researchers and members of the public, who fear that tourists eager to see sharks eat may actually be preventing them from doing so. "Sharks feed infrequently, so to disturb one during a feeding event may disrupt its life cycle," said sanctuary Superintendent Maria Brown, who said that up to nine different tourism companies have pursued sharks within the sanctuary.

"Some operators use pigs' blood or cut-outs in the shape of a seal to attract sharks," Brown said. "Others use surf boards, which could cause sharks to be attracted to surf boards. That's one of the last things we want."

Tour operators say the new rules could hurt their business and make it more difficult for the public to learn about sharks.

Read the full article by Rob Rogers at Marinil.com

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Rob Rodgers / Marinij.com

Sharks - Surfersvillage