Warmer waters blamed for shark bites

by Brian Freskos
Lumina News
Thursday, July 22, 2010

Three days after a shark bite off Wrightsville Beach’s north end, a leading expert on July 20 pointed a finger at higher than average ocean temperatures, saying the high temps had opened early predatory feeding grounds along the North Carolina seaboard.

George Burgess, director of Florida’s shark research program and curator of the International Shark Attack File, suggested the unusually high ocean temperatures had accelerated northern migratory patterns at the same time droves of people were flocking to area beaches, enhancing the probability sharks and humans would interact.

The latest encounter, between 13-year-old Kendall Parker and an unconfirmed shark species near Mason’s Inlet on July 17, brings to four the total number of documented attacks in North Carolina waters so far this year. That’s the highest recorded number of in-state shark bites since 2000, when there were five, according to data from the Florida-based shark attack file.

Ocean temperatures have been unseasonably warm. Meteorologist Josh Weiss, of the National Weather Service in Wilmington, said in-water July temperatures have historically averaged 81 degrees. But temperatures have lingered in the mid-80s since June.

Between 2003 and 2009, shark bites in North Carolina averaged 1.5 per year, Burgess said. That is lower than South Carolina, which saw three per year on average during that same time period.

South Carolina has already met its yearly average. Bites have occurred at Otter Island, Fripp Island and most recently at Myrtle Beach, Burgess said.

Parker’s encounter last weekend was the most southerly bite in North Carolina so far. The others occurred in Currituck County—which experienced one encounter in both May and June for a total of two—and Topsail Island, where another 13-year-old female, Carley Schlentz, was bitten on June 25, according to file reports.

Parker, of Davidson, was bitten in the arm as she waded just north of the Shell Island Resort, witnesses and authorities said.

Dave Baker, director of Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue, said emergency personnel responded to the scene at roughly 12:30 p.m., and treated the girl inside the Shell Island lobby.

She was later transported to Cape Fear Memorial Hospital, where she received 40 stitches and was later released, according to media reports, parts of which were confirmed by a hospital spokesperson.

Which shark species to blame for Parker’s injuries will probably remain a mystery, Burgess said.

“A lot of the media has so far erroneously identified it as a sand tiger shark,” said Paul Barrington, the director of husbandry and operations at the North Carolina Aquarium in Fort Fisher. “It takes a tremendous amount of forensics to determine specifically what type of shark it is.”

Barrington and Burgess did confirm that the animal was likely around 4 feet in length. Burgess said it was likely no bigger than that.

Barrington said the largest population of sharks right now in coastal North Carolina is the small sharpnose shark, though Parker’s bite could have also been the work of a dusky, sandbar, lemon, black tip or spinner shark.

What, if any, impact the shark reports may have on people’s confidence as they swim at the beach is unclear.

Kim Hufham, the president/CEO of the Wilmington/Cape Fear Coast Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, said Tuesday that all indicators—attractions, room occupancy receipts, and Smith Travel Research—were pointing toward a rebound in tourism this year.

“I think most people realize unprovoked shark attacks on people are rare,” said Connie Nelson, a spokeswoman for the bureau.

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