Thousands of Sharks Along Florida Coast Cause Beach Closures
the daily dish
Tens of thousands of sharks have been seen along the southern coast of Florida, leading to beach closures from Boca Raton to Jupiter, according to the Daily Mail U.K. The sharks are migrating back north after traveling south for the winter.

"We counted over 15,000 sharks less than 200 yards from shore," said Dr. Stephen Kajiura, an associate professor of biology at Florida Atlantic University who researches shark migration. "That's 1,000 sharks per square kilometer. If you were a swimmer, you would probably be within 60 feet of a shark."
Most of the sharks are spinner sharks and blacktip sharks, but hammerhead sharks, tiger sharks, lemon sharks and bull sharks also have been spotted.
Despite their intimidating numbers, the sharks don't pose a high threat to humans. In the history of the United States, only 36 people have been killed in confirmed shark attacks. Sharks don't naturally hunt humans, so most attacks happen when sharks confuse people for other prey. Dr. Kajiura says that because the water in Palm Beach County is so clear, attacks are unlikely. "Sharks can see a person and distinguish it from prey."
There are some precautions swimmers can take to maximize their safety. First, stick to areas close to where lifeguards are on duty. Also, because sharks are attracted to silver and gold, swimmers shouldn't wear jewelry in the water.
"We counted over 15,000 sharks less than 200 yards from shore," said Dr. Stephen Kajiura, an associate professor of biology at Florida Atlantic University who researches shark migration. "That's 1,000 sharks per square kilometer. If you were a swimmer, you would probably be within 60 feet of a shark."
Most of the sharks are spinner sharks and blacktip sharks, but hammerhead sharks, tiger sharks, lemon sharks and bull sharks also have been spotted.
Despite their intimidating numbers, the sharks don't pose a high threat to humans. In the history of the United States, only 36 people have been killed in confirmed shark attacks. Sharks don't naturally hunt humans, so most attacks happen when sharks confuse people for other prey. Dr. Kajiura says that because the water in Palm Beach County is so clear, attacks are unlikely. "Sharks can see a person and distinguish it from prey."
There are some precautions swimmers can take to maximize their safety. First, stick to areas close to where lifeguards are on duty. Also, because sharks are attracted to silver and gold, swimmers shouldn't wear jewelry in the water.
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64 Comments
The Prez is in Miami. Maybe these are just his constituents, hungry for the handouts he promises.
March 29 2013 at 8:16 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThey couldn't possibly be coming near the shore because humans have fished out all the food from the oceans where they normally live could it? Naaahhh, couldn't be that. Also the sea lion pups coming ashore in San Diego starving to death because all the tuna are gone. Leave it to humans to destroy everything around them including themselves.
March 23 2013 at 12:17 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Replyyup, this happens every year around this time.
March 13 2013 at 3:32 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down ReplyOops...no issues with sharks. Jellyfish are more annoying.
March 08 2013 at 3:04 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI have been swimming in the gulf and Atlantic along with scuba diving and snorkeling for over 3 decades and issues with sharks. Using common sense helps.
March 08 2013 at 3:03 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Replylooks like another democratic convention
March 08 2013 at 1:40 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down ReplyNo, there looking for teabaggin spring brakers.
March 13 2013 at 8:27 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI live here in Boca the sharks are so close they are right in the breaking surf
March 08 2013 at 12:04 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyTHe second comment by" revelationnsyt: encouraging the "entire Obama family and all liberals to hit the waves" there right now isn't really an attempt at political humor. No one ever had that level of murderous wishful thinking directed at previous Democratic -- or Republican -- presidents. It comes from racist hatred. Obama is our President....The duly-elected (by 5 million Americans) President of the United States. Even setting aside the fact that he's pulled the country from the brink of depression, the economy has steadily improved, the stock market is at an all-time high, unemployment has steadily dropped, he's brought about equal pay for women, put strict limitations on irresponsible investing on Wall Street, and on credit card companies ripping off consumers, just to name a few major accomplishments all of which help the middle class, he is a model family man, devoted husband and father, with a beautiful family. To wish all of them death is not only shocking, it's unAmerican, and vicious. There needs to be a level of respect for our President that precludes such appallingly cold, hateful racism. He's accomplished an enormous amount of good for this country and for the average American, in apite of Republicans' stonewalling him at every turn. Cynicism and racism and hatred do nothing for the healing of our country.
March 08 2013 at 11:25 AM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down ReplyFrenzied? Frenzied? Talk about trying to stir up hysteria and hype this to the max. Shameful media idiots.
March 08 2013 at 10:58 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replybe a great time for the intire Obama family to hit the wave\'s at the beach here and invite every liberal supporter to swim with him..
March 08 2013 at 10:24 AM Report abuse Permalink +3 rate up rate down ReplyWow what an incredibly intelligent response!! ...That was sarcasm..I doubt you caught that.
March 08 2013 at 12:19 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyhow about you take your family down to the beach and go swimming, make sure to wrap your kids in meat suits and make it extra bloody :]
March 08 2013 at 8:18 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply