"There is definitely more bites this year than any other year we’ve seen and the number we’re experience in this time of year is higher than in other years," says Randy Honebrink, DLNR shark expert.
There were three shark attacks in 2011, 3 in 2010, 3 in 2009 and 2 incidents in 2008.
So far for 2012 there have been ten attacks, including Wednesday’s attack in waters off the west shore of Kauai. Prior to that there have been six shark attacks on Maui, another on Kauai, one on Oahu and one on Lanai.
"All the ones from October I think we’ve pretty much ID’d as Tiger Sharks, there were some smaller reef sharks before that," says Honebrink.
Tigers are considered the most dangerous sharks in Hawaiian waters. When there is a shark attack and the shark can be identified, Tigers top the list.
"Tiger sharks can swim the entire length of the hawaiian chain, there’s no doubt about that," says Mark Heckman, Education Specialist – Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology.
But researchers at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology want to know exactly where these animals go and their pattern of movement. One theory is that Tigers are migrating from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
"There may be some sharks that move up and down the chain and others that don’t of the same species," says Heckman.
But the study needs a lot more years of data, so knowing for sure if their theory is accurate is a ways off. Other studies are looking at the correlation between the number of ocean users and shark attacks.
"So the incidents don’t seem to be driven by the number of sharks in the water so much as the rising numbers of people in that environment," says Heckman.
Fatal shark bites are extremely rare. Most attacks happen between October and November then taper off in December, but this year that’s not the case.
"Eventually numbers will drop I’m just hoping it’s sooner rather than later," says Honebrink.
A third theory suggests the growing population of green sea turtles, the shark’s favorite prey, is bringing more of them closer to the shoreline.
See the original article at: KHON2 Developing Stories
