SHARM EL-SHEIKH - Looking at the peaceful blue sea, I wondered how such beauty can become a scene of horrific disasters. I saw several National Park boats with divers working diligently, combing an area between Ras Nasrani and Ras Mohamed of the Red Sea to rid it from the danger that’s lurking it its dark depths.
Last week, four shark attacks were reported, unfortunately one was fatal. As a result, all resort beaches, national parks and diving centres were closed.
The Chamber of Diving and Water Sports (COWS), is working with four world renowned shark experts to form an advisory team to try to assess and advise on the best course of action following these attacks.
I listened to much talk about why the attacks happened whether from social circles or news programmes. They are all theories of course. The first culprit in the accusations is the merchant ship transferring sheep from Australia heading to Jordan that dumped dead sheep into the sea.
This illegal action caused the sharks to feed on meat and blood, which is known to drive sharks crazy. In the second place comes the illegal fishing causing diminished supplies of fish meals for sharks.
Third is the illegal feeding of fish by tourists to get a closer look at the fish. Fourth is the behaviour of the shark itself, relating to their dominance or territorial defence and breeding season.
The attacks could be a result of the four theories combined. The scarcity of fish caused the sharks to eat the dead msheep meat. Tourists feeding the fish attract the hungry sharks, which might want more meat.
“Oceanic White Tip shark is bold,” said Mohamed, a diving instructor. “They are not shy like other types of msharks. They can come close to divers and are unafraid of them. Their breeding season is from mid-November to February, and they usually demonstrate aggressive behaviour. Around that time every year, we hear about an attack by the same species.”
The most spotted species in the area are the Tiger Shark, Short Fin Mako, Great Hammerhead and Oceanic White Tip.
The latter is the accused species in the Sharm attacks. According to the International Shark Attack Files, which is a compilation of all known shark attacks administered by the American Elasmobranch Society and the Florida Museum of Natural History: “Worldwide there are probably 70 -100 shark attacks annually resulting in about 5 -15 deaths.”
Learning more about shark attacks, I found that there are three major kinds of unprovoked shark attacks: “Hit and Run” attacks are the most common type. Unaware of the attacker, swimmers and surfers go on with their fun activity until one victim is chosen. The shark takes a single bite or inflicts a slash wound mistaking
the human victim’s identity with a seal or another kind of its traditional food item, which has a splashing movement similar to the human’s swimming motion.
The two other kinds of unprovoked attacks are “Bump and Bite” and “Sneak” attacks. In the former, the shark circles its victim and bumps him or her before the actual attack. The latter differs in the strike occurring without a warning.
Both result in severe injuries with repeat attacks and multiple bites, similar to what happened to the victims in Sharm.
Unfortunately, most fatalities happen from bleeding excessively and the victim going into shock. These types of attacks are for feeding or antagonistic behaviour rather than being a case of mistaken traditional foods.
While shark attacks do occur around the world, they are very rare compared to other unfortunate incidents. The probability of dying from being bitten by a snake, a dog, or even a bee sting, is much greater than dying from a shark’s bite.
Every sport is associated with its risks; nonetheless, swimming in the open seas carries a number of risks among which is shark attacks. But it is a danger one must consider while entering water.
What size of a shark is considered a threat? Any large shark, two metres or longer in total length, is a potential threat to humans.
What attracts a shark? Experts of the International Shark Attack File listed a number of reasons why a shark would become attracted to its victim, and advised to reduce the risk of an attack by following certain tips:
Do not swim alone. Swim in groups.
Do not swim if you have open bleeding wounds or menstruating. Sharks will smell the blood.
Do not swim at night, dawn or dusk. Sharks’ senses are sharp and they are most active during these hours.
Do not wear jewellery that would reflect in the sun and emulates the glow reflected on fish scales.
Do not swim in an isolated area away from medical aid. Do not swim in areas of commercial fishing, effluent, or sewage.
Do not swim in areas where dolphins are present. Sharks eat the same diet as dolphins.
Do not splash excessively. The irregular vibrations may attract sharks’ attention.
Avoid uneven tanning. Sharks will spot the bright sole of the feet. Avoid bright colours. Sharks’ vision captures contrasts. Avoid swimming in murky waters. Avoid swimming near abrupt changes in depth. These are favourite areas for sharks.
Do not annoy a shark if it is sighted and evacuate immediately. Sharm is not the only place where shark attacks happen, Florida, California, Durban, Samoa, Dominican Republic, Grace town, Port Kennedy, and many places around the world report shark attacks.
What comforts me and the community in Sharm is that the Ministry of Tourism and the COWS have taken the right steps to secure the safety of our tourists and guests. Cooperating with experts from around the world and working as a team to overcome this crisis is at its best.
Divers are risking their own lives for the safety of others. They are the heroes, even if the shark is never captured.
