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Sharks: Dangerous? Endangered?By KRISTEN STERNBERG | NIE Educational Consultant It has been reported that Volusia County leads the world in shark bites. "Inlet shark attacks continue" and "Reports of shark attacks rise" are just two of many headlines published recently in The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Because the number of attacks is growing, some people may think that there are more sharks than ever, or that sharks are becoming more aggressive. It may come as a surprise to learn that many sharks are actually endangered: Their numbers are declining, rather than on the rise.
What, then, is causing the increased number of attacks on humans? Experts are looking at several factors that may contribute to such incidents. For example, some say that feeding sharks to attract them for tourism and sport is causing sharks to lose their fear of humans. Regulations are being introduced to ban the feeding of sharks because, (as with any wild creatures) as they lose their fear, they may become more and more aggressive. Volusia County may "lead the world in shark bites," but it also leads the world in the number of people who are in the water for longer periods of time. On average, there are more people at more beaches in this area, and more surfers and swimmers who tend to stay in the water longer, so it's perhaps not altogether surprising that there are more shark-related incidents in this area. In efforts to keep beach-goers safe, officials continue to work to find ways to prevent shark attacks, such as closing sections of beaches where sharks can be seen. The growing number of unpleasant encounters with sharks proves that it is hard to coexist with them at the beach, but some people do have a different kind of relationship with sharks. For instance, some commercial fishermen make their living catching sharks. They are at the center of a debate about whether such practices should be allowed to continue, as scientists believe the long-term prospects for sharks are dim without limits on how many should be killed. Sharks existed long before dinosaurs lived. Sharks are fish, not mammals (like whales and dolphins are), but unlike most fish, sharks don't have any bones. Instead, their skeletons are made of cartilage, which is not as hard or brittle as bone. Another interesting fact about sharks is that they cannot swim backwards. Some kinds of sharks are only a few inches long, about the size of a person's hand. Certain sharks, however, can grow to be bigger than a school bus! Some species, such as the Great White Shark, are well known through movies, books, television documentaries, etc. and are considered pretty scary by most people. Sharks' huge mouths and sharp, pointy teeth make them dangerous opponents. Fear, however, hasn't stopped people from hunting sharks. Many products are made from sharks, using their meat, skin, oil, teeth and jaws. Their fins are also considered a delicacy, and are served up in such dishes as shark's fin soup. Fishermen have been known to cut off only the fins of sharks and then throw the rest back into the water to die. Many scientists agree that humans are a greater threat to sharks than sharks are to humans. What do you think? Before you make up your mind completely, be sure to check out the newspaper activities and web links provided below. You're bound to learn more and have some fun while you do it! Try these interesting activities using The Daytona Beach News-Journal1. Sometimes months go by without any shark incidents on our local beaches, but at other times we may read or hear of such incidents almost daily. What factors seem to contribute to whether or not sharks might be a threat at the beach? The time of year and current weather conditions are certainly factors, because many shark attacks seem to occur seasonally. Check The News-Journal for up-to-date information about whether your favorite beach is safe for swimming and play. If all is well, try to arrange a day out with friends or family. (Sunshine State Standards: HEC121, HEC122, HEC124, SCG121
2. Conflicts between humans and animal wildlife occur frequently. How many situations can you think of that can cause such conflicts? Maintaining a balance between the needs of humans and those of wild animals can require some delicate interactions. Use The News-Journal to find and read articles about people/animal encounters. Clip the articles you find and create a scrapbook of human/wildlife conflicts. Pay special attention to how each encounter (or issue) was resolved. If no resolution has taken place, use your conflict-resolving skills to think of the best possible solution for all. Be prepared to discuss your newspaper articles and solutions. (Sunshine State Standards: SCG121, SCG122 3. Central Florida has been called the shark attack capital of the world. Although this is certainly a distinction, it is not a positive one. Besides sharks, what other natural wonders are available in Central Florida? Search The News-Journal for inspiration. Create a travel ad encouraging folks to come to Central Florida to experience one such wonder. (Sunshine State Standards: LAB223, SSB121 4. Being careful and exercising good judgment at the beach may help to keep you safe. Besides sharks, what other hazards can be found at the beach? Brainstorm, for a moment, all the hazards you can possibly think of. Next, open The News-Journal to find and clip items that show hazards, along with items that are important for a fun and safe day at the beach. Arrange your newspaper clippings on a large sheet of paper and title your paper "Beach Fun; Beach Safety," or think of a similar heading of your own. Next to each object you clipped, put its opposite. For example, next to a photo of someone with sunburn (or the word, "sunburn," that you have clipped from the newspaper), find and clip an ad for sun block, etc. Complete your poster with items you draw yourself if some images and words are not immediately available in the paper. Display the poster so that others can learn from it. (Sunshine State Standards: HEB122, HEB327, HEC221, HEC222, HEC224, HEC226 5. Although Central Florida gets a lot of publicity for its shark population, it's certainly not the only place in the world where sharks can often be seen. Check The News-Journal routinely to find and read articles about sharks worldwide. As you find new information about these creatures in other parts of the world, be sure to look up their location(s) on a world map or globe. Do other countries have similar problems with sharks? Why or why not? (Sunshine State Standards: SSB121, SSB125, SSB123, SSB124 A copy of Florida's Sunshine State Standards can be found at intech2000.miamisci.org/. Check out these links to learn moreExactly what is a shark? How long have sharks existed? Where do they live? Take a look at this amazing site that offers answers to the above questions as well as provides activities such as shark printouts to color. Don't miss the link to "Extreme Sharks!" www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/sharks/allabout/
Find interesting information about sharks' eating patterns, reproduction habits and other behaviors, along with a neat section on books about sharks for young readers, at this site provided by Sea World. www.seaworld.org Take a look at an interesting school project about the great white shark. www.schoolworld.asn.au.species Sharks are not the only sea creatures to attract interest. Check out some other aquatic animals-like whales, sea otters and jellyfish, for example, as you explore this fun site by OceanLink. Be prepared to learn some fascinating facts! oceanlink.island.net The Newspaper Association of America's web site contains links to many newspapers in the U.S. and around the world, which may contain additional news stories about this topic. To access the newspapers at the site, select a state. Click on the "Internationals" button to view choices from other countries. The Daytona Beach News-Journal NIE Program, published July 8, 2002 |
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