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Great White Sharks Making Comeback Off Atlantic Coast

An anonymous reader writes "A report that scientists are calling one of the most comprehensive studies of great white sharks finds their numbers are surging in the ocean off the Eastern U.S. and Canada after decades of decline — bad news if you're a seal, but something experts say shouldn't instill fear. The scientists behind the study attribute the resurgence to conservation efforts, such as a federal 1997 act that prevented hunting of great whites, and greater availability of prey. The species is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature."

17 of 107 comments (clear)

  1. Fantastic news! by Vinegar+Joe · · Score: 4, Funny

    Pass the soup!

    --
    "The average reporter we talk to is 27 years old......They literally know nothing." - Ben Rhodes
  2. Food chain by penix1 · · Score: 3, Funny

    This is one of the many reasons I don't go anywhere near the ocean. It is a food chain out there and I don't need to be the weakest link.... GOODBYE!

    --
    This is a sig. This is only a sig. Had this been an actual sig you would have been informed where to tune for more sigs.
    1. Re:Food chain by dreamchaser · · Score: 2

      You do know that statistically you're more likely to die of bee stings than from a shark, right? I'd have to check but I think it's even more likely you'll die from a lightning strike. So you'd better be safe and never leave your house again.

      Seriously...that's a really silly attitude based in ignorance. Now, I don't care if you ever go in the ocean, but your reasoning so flawed it's almost funny.

    2. Re:Food chain by JackieBrown · · Score: 2

      Now, I don't care if you ever go in the ocean, but your reasoning so flawed it's almost funny.

      Lighten up. It was clearly suppose to be funny

    3. Re:Food chain by tlhIngan · · Score: 2

      Practically speaking, almost all shark attacks on humans are accidental. We're just not that tasty to a Great White. More often than not, said shark saw you as a tasty sea lion or seal and wanted a snack.

      Of course, it doesn't help that said animals generally are black, and people like to wear dark swim clothes (wetsuits, etc) making humans appear to be said food.

      Of course, you could also try to befriend some dolphins, who do seem to be the shark's worst enemy. Or at least dolphins appear to repel sharks for whatever reason.

  3. good news for the sharks .... by thephydes · · Score: 3, Insightful

    but probably bad news for the morons who like their photo taken with a dead marine top predator.

    1. Re:good news for the sharks .... by Thanshin · · Score: 2

      but probably bad news for the morons who like their photo taken with a dead marine top predator.

      I don't think necrophiliacs care much about sharks.

  4. Re:Danger??? by Xest · · Score: 2

    Well not necessarily, if as the article says there's a greater abundance of food then they'll be less likely to come and hunt dangerous and relatively bony and low meat humans.

    Generally they don't hunt us out of choice, but out of necessity.

    It's possible that an increase in great whites will result in reduced attacks if the increase is the result of greater availability of food so now satisfy or more than satisfy the population. It'll only be an issue if there are years where their food sources suffer population declines or similar.

  5. Excellent news! by oneandoneis2 · · Score: 5, Informative

    As has been shown time after time, the loss of apex predators is disastrous for all levels of an ecosystem.

    (If you want examples, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H... - loss of wolves lead to over-grazing by elk; reintroducing them not only sorted the elk problem but boosted the numbers of beaver colonies, resulting in less erosion; pushed the cougars back to their traditional grounds; reduced the numbers of coyotes, which increased the number of foxes and thereby decreased the numbers of rodents, which altered the survival rates of various seeds and fungi... a whole cascade of improvements triggered by the return of a single predator.)

    --
    So.. it has come to this
    1. Re:Excellent news! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      There's a great video detailing some of these things you mentioned about the reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone.

    2. Re:Excellent news! by BlackPignouf · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yay wolf!
      I'm all for beavers and cougars.

  6. Re:Danger??? by oneandoneis2 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Actually, Great Whites don't even hunt us out of necessity: We are literally useless to them as food. All they ever do to us is take a bite, realize their mistake, and carry on looking for a worthwhile meal.

    The trouble is, given their method of taking a bite involves slamming into their target at high speed and sinking hundreds of teeth in, you may well have been torn in half by the time they go "oops" and spit you back out...

    --
    So.. it has come to this
  7. Re:Danger??? by Thanshin · · Score: 4, Insightful

    On one side, a vicious shark. On the other a retard with a motorbike, half a dozen beers and a large breasted bikini blonde to impress.

    hmm. Based on my past experiences with both, I'll take my chances with the shark.

    Oh, and I don't see how you can fight or escape a motorbike either.

  8. Re:Danger??? by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 2

    And all that happens... 0,2 times per year?

    Compared to deaths at sea for any other reason (ran over by water bike, ran over by surfer, ran over by motorboat, drowned by currents, ...) in which position are white sharks? Next to deaths by stepping on a rusty nail while running at the beach?

    Inaccurate risk perception is way too pervasive in our society. Our schools need to get much better at teaching kids how to assess it.

  9. Check the news by kaizendojo · · Score: 3, Informative

    One was just sighted this weekend off the coast of New Jersey.

  10. Re:Good news! by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 2

    "God" and "laws of physics" are really interchangeable. The argument between those who call themselves atheists and those who don't is merely over what the laws are.

    Which is why every night I pray to the laws of physics.

    --
    The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
  11. Re:Good news! by amoeba1911 · · Score: 4, Funny

    "God" and "laws of physics" are really interchangeable.

    Someone should make a chrome plugin that changes the word "God" to "laws of physics" ... similar to "Coud to Butt"

    Romans 1:18-20
    The wrath of laws of physics is being revealed from heaven against all the laws of physicslessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about laws of physics is plain to them, because laws of physics has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world laws of physics' invisible qualities--laws of physics' eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

    Corinthians 1:25
    For the foolishness of laws of physics is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of laws of physics is stronger than man's strength.

    Peter 4:11-12
    If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of laws of physics. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength laws of physics provides, so that in all things laws of physics may be praised through laws of physics. To laws of physics be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.