Large Sharks Tracked in US Waters Amid Multiple Attacks on 4th of July; Are Encounters Increasing?

This week, numerous large sharks have been observed in U.S. waters; several beachgoers were attacked on Independence Day. Many people are concerned about the frequency of these kinds of meetings.

Shark Attacks and Activity in the Past Few Months

Two people were bitten by sharks approximately at 11 a.m. local time on July 4 on South Padre Island, Texas. This is a rare and dangerous occurrence.

A person suffered severe leg injuries, and another individual was injured while endeavoring to provide assistance. One wounded needed extra care at another facility, but the others were quickly taken to Valley Regional Medical Center.

On the same day, a 21-year-old male from Ohio was struck by a shark at New Smyrna Beach in Volusia County, Florida. The assault occurred while he was playing football in water that reached his legs, requiring him to visit the hospital for assistance.

These shark strikes don't happen often, especially on the same day. According to the International Shark Attack File at the University of Florida, there have been 259 shark bites in Florida since 2012, but only seven in Texas. Of those, 94 were in Volusia County alone.

Several big sharks, like Breton, a 13-foot-3-inch great white, have been seen in U.S. waters before these events. Breakon was found off Florida's Port St. Lucie coast, about 130 miles south of New Smyrna Beach. He has spent the last few months moving around in Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina.

Someone has found two more great white sharks off the coast of Nova Scotia. Their names are Ormond (9-foot-11-inch) and Anne Bonny (9-foot-3-inch). A great hammerhead shark named B.P. Armstrong was also seen off the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula.

Understanding Shark Behavior and Tracking Efforts

Most great white sharks that inhabit the East Coast migrate north to the waters off of Canada during the summer and south during the winter. But not all sharks strictly follow this pattern. Gavin Naylor, who runs the Florida Program for Shark Research, says that these migrations are caused mainly by food supply rather than temperature.

OCEARCH, a data-focused group, is crucial for tracking these top predators. They use a unique method of sharing data with everyone, which makes everyone more aware and allows everyone to participate.

For OCEARCH's tagging method, sharks are caught with handlines and led to an underwater platform. Once the animals are bound, researchers put different tags on them and take samples like blood, tissue, and fin clips. Researchers use these samples to look at things like reproduction, genetics, food, and the amount of contaminants present.

The data from the tags strongly suggest that the sharks will survive and behave generally after being set free. Tags may make them uncomfortable for a short time, but there is no proof that it changes their behavior or ability to stay alive. This information, which helps fill in gaps in our knowledge about adult sharks, is essential for world efforts to protect wildlife and keep people safe.

Even though the latest attacks are scary, beachgoers still don't have to worry about running into sharks. People should be careful in places where big sharks have been seen.

To lower the risk of getting attacked, stay away from big groups of baitfish near the shore and calmly get out of the water if a shark is seen. We will learn more about shark behavior if we keep tracking them and doing studies. This will help us better manage interactions between humans and sharks, which is suitable for public safety and marine conservation.