Raratonga and other Island Nations that have made their surrounding waters more 'Sanctuary' and 'Zones' have seen an increase in Shark numbers and the Stats with heavily 'shark finned' areas have been decimated. Sharks comes to these areas true - because of the greater abundance in food from these Zones. Most Sharks are NOT deepwater (unlike the Oceanic White-Tip or 'Sailor's Shark'). So naturally 'Coastal' stretches attract Sharks.
There has been an increase in Grey Nurse Sharks (also preyed on by Great Whites) thanks to Spear-Fishing restrictions. As have many other species like the Blue Devil Fish.
There is less and less 'food' out there in the Chain of Life. Suddenly there are hardly any Great Whites around South Africa because the Orca have preyed on them over the last decade. Orca get shot near Mexico because the Fishermen see the Orca as a 'competitor'.
There is an increase in Sharks due to many factors now. Probably still not as numerous before Man learned how to obliterate species and their numbers over the recent centuries. But with more and more people going into the water in various ways and methods - contact between Shark and Human will become more and more.
How it pans out is up to us.
...snorkling with just a hand-spear, to which I never use (its just an added 'comfort') at a popular spot where 'holidayers' from affair come to frolic and try their luck at spearfishing. Like bubbles churning from all the Holiday Spearos pumping in about 50 in a day (just a long weekend squeeze) at one spot. Such activity had summoned a large female Great White to come 'in'. She times it well. Seems to know when the Public Holidays are around. The hairs on the back of my neck prickle, I know I'm being watched. The fish and the sounds underwater suddenly become subdued and I move to exit the water 40m away.
The following weekend at the same spot, my mate is dragged 20m underwater before he managed to unclip his fish line (x5 fish), by the Great White. He took it like Chuck Norris in his stride.
Stewart Island, NZ.
I had asked one of the locals about scuba diving solo around here as it looked great. The answer was "sure" - many do and the Great Whites are rarely seen or bother. The Orca are the 'Apex' Predator in NZ waters and the GW's are more 'polite'. But at that time I was there, there were Cage Diving for 'Research' underway off the Bluff area across the strait. That 'research' ultimately showed it's true nature
as Great White Sharks were being 'chummed' and lured by food for CAGE TOURISM. Within just 8 years - Great White activity increases in the 'violent' nature the
Great Whites had changed in their behaviour and numbers because they now associated Humans with FOOD. A new behaviour of ramming 'tinnies' and other boats for food and creating an environment that no Scuba Diver would now do alone. The increase of Food (chum) given to the Sharks have given them the right environment to breed more, just like Kangaroos do.
There is an increase in Sharks around Australian Coastal waters. Yes, some come from other 'stressful' parts of the world, where natural food and numbers for breeding are 'scarce'. Fish can 'hear' a Bommie 26km away. I'm pretty sure Sharks can 'know about' this big continent's offerings.
The factor is. Are we going to enter their world sensibly? Or are we gonna 'ask for it' when they feel they should bite?
Shelly Beach, Port Lincoln - 50m out. I have two very large Kingfish hug me like baitfish do when Kingfish are after them. So what's hunting these big 80kg Kingfish?
...I got out pretty quick.
My arse went from 50c to 5c.
That's what I've said from day dot when they started the heavy chumming for Great White research in Sth Aust. e.g. shark attack victim Rodney Foxes involvement.
That method shouldn't be used for shark viewing tourism...... as it shouldn't be used for the Crocodile tourism where they feed them to get them to jump up out of the water in the wild in certain rivers in the Nthn Territory & other locations.
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