Shark News

New Smyrna Beach retains its 'Shark Bite Capital' title

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 20 February, 2009 : - - Were there fewer sharks in the water last year or fewer swimmers? Either way, there were fewer unprovoked shark attacks worldwide, says a Florida shark-attack expert who keeps track.

That wasn't the case, however, in Volusia County, where a favorite beach for surfers had a nearly record-setting slew of shark bites. The New Smyrna Beach surfing spot just south of Ponce de Leon Inlet retained its long-running distinction of "shark-bite capital of the world" with more bites there than anywhere else in the world.

George Burgess, shark scientist and keeper of the International Shark Attack File, attributed the worldwide decrease to overfishing of sharks and a sagging economy. In 2008, 59 confirmed cases of unprovoked shark attacks were reported worldwide, said Burgess of the Florida Museum of Natural History. That compares with 71 such attacks in 2007. Overall, the number of attacks has leveled off since peaking at the start of the millennium.

Read the full artilce at Orlando Sentinel

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Source: Orlando Sentinel

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