Sharks are in big trouble worldwide. Recent studies (Edgar et al 2014) estimate that shark biomass is down by 93% worldwide as a result of fishing pressures. Thatâs 1/15th as many sharks as there originally were in our oceans. Humans continue to kill 100 million sharks per year. Sharks kill 5 humans worldwide per year (confirmed unprovoked attacks; ISAF). Who needs to be protected from whom?
This little (1.2 m) shark circled me for 5-10 mins during my survey at Horseshoe in the lagoon at LHI. Very curious, and just a little disconcerting after a while. It was no real threat but there's a certain visceral response that you can't totally rationalise away...