The Dorsal Fin

NBC Bay Area recently ran a feature about the increased presence of great white sharks in the region during this time of year. Included in the article is the video above, which recounts the events of August 28, 2007 when Todd Endris was attacked by a great white shark off of Monterey. Endris’ story of being rescued by a pod of dolphins made headlines back in 2007.

The article goes on to discuss white shark sightings in the area and makes the statement that while other species in the ocean are on the decline, “great white populations appear to be on the rise.” The justification in the article for this claim is a quote from Dr. John McCosker stating, “There certainly have been more sightings.”

McCosker’s quote was taken from a San Francisco Chronicle article about white sharks, in which McCosker also stated that while it seemed that there were more sharks in the area, there currently wasn’t enough evidence to support the claim.

The article also references other white shark related events in the area that have been in the news recently including claims that an 18-25′ great white shark was spotted in Pacifica attacking a sea lion. While an 18′ white shark seems reasonable, the upper-end range of 25′ would be off the chart (Dr. McCosker would likely agree, based on the book he co-authored with Richard Ellis on great white sharks).

NBC Bay Area concludes the article with tips on avoiding shark attacks and then throws in a link about shark conservation.

Dr. John McCosker offers tips on how to get eaten by a great white shark

by TheDorsalFin on May.02, 2010, under The Lighter Side

Even following these tips, you probably still won't get eaten by a great white shark.

According to the SF Weekly, Dr. John McCosker of the California Academy of Sciences included a tongue-in-cheek list of suggestions on how to be eaten by a white shark during his April 29th presentation, “Sharks: Why We Love, Fear, and Need Them.”

The overall theme of the presentation was one of shark conservation. However, McCosker apparently attempted to add some comedic elements to the talk with his tips on how to increase one’s odds for being involved in a white shark attack. His tips included…

• making yourself look like a natural food source of the white shark by wearing a wetsuit and floundering a top a short surfboard
• going swimming in areas in known white shark aggregation and feeding areas
• diving for abalone around the Farallon Islands (also a known aggregation spot for large white sharks)

While McCosker’s tips were likely an attempt to keep the audience’s interest piqued. None of them are really a surefire bet to cause a white shark attack, much less result in being “eaten” by a white shark. Even the abalone diver scenario at the Farallones isn’t a guarantee for a shark attack, as can be seen in the video below featuring Ron Elliott’s famous sea urchin diving among the white sharks there.

2 Comments :Farallon Islands, great white shark, john mccosker, ron elliott, shark attack, tips more...