04 May 2008 04:27:41

Jack Linthicum

Shark bite capital of the world

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/volusia/orl-sharkintro0408may04,0,1093777.story Sharks aka "dangerous marine life" Ludmilla Lelis | Sentinel Staff Writer May 4, 2008 Shark bite capital of the world Video 2 minutes with Gary Miller * Search: Shark attacks in Volusia County Search: Shark attacks in Volusia County * Photos: Sharks in Florida Photos: Sharks in Florida Photos * Don't swim alone and don't swim in murky waters, especially during feeding times of twilight and darkness. Burgess recommends that you avoid wearing shiny jewelry and stay out of the water if you have an open wound. Q: How serious are the attacks? Most incidents are minor. Smaller sharks, such as blacktips, feed near New Smyrna Beach. Occasionally, a bull shark will cause a more serious injury. Burgess said no one has ever died from a shark attack off Volusia's coast. Fatal attacks elsewhere usually involve bigger, more aggressive species, such as the great white thought to have killed a triathlete off California last month. Q: What happens in a typical bite? Usually, the shark will bite a hand or foot while chasing baitfish. Victims mostly suffer puncture wounds and cuts, with a few torn tendons or ligaments. Q: How are shark bites treated? Most victims require stitches and a short course of antibiotics. The wound is X-rayed and thoroughly cleaned, said Dr. Paul Marton at Bert Fish Medical Center. Q: Should people worry about the number of recent attacks? The pace of attacks isn't increasing, Burgess said. The waters are warming, so large schools of sharks will migrate to the North Atlantic. Warmer waters also mean more swimmers. Bites tend to spike in the fall, when sharks migrate south. Q: Why does New Smyrna Beach have so many shark attacks? The half-mile zone south of the inlet jetty attracts surfers. Sharks also frequent those waters, feasting on the plentiful baitfish. So the shark bites are a matter of mistaken identity. The record for Volusia County was 22 in 2001.