A shark attack on humans is motivated by two general causes. The first cause is feeding, when the shark is looking for food and either bites the human victim or swallows him whole. The second cause for shark attacks is when the shark is not hunting for food, but views man as a threat. According to Bernard J. Zahuranec, author of Shark Repellents of the Sea, shark generally feed on smaller prey, and they bite or gouge pieces of dead or injured animals. Distress signals also capture the interest of sharks. Strange odors, sounds, and erratic movements can attract sharks, and even lead to a feeding frenzy, when many sharks attack at once. Attacks are sudden and fast; the snout of the shark is lifted, the pectoral fin is exaggerated, and the back is arched. The shark does not forewarn of an attack. Zahuranec mentions two men, H.D Baldridge and J. Williams, authors of the article “Shark Attack: Feeding or Fighting?” for the International Shark Attack Files. They say, “Results of aggressive behavior directed at victims is an attitude of fighting rather than feeding.” According to Baldridge and Williams, many victims had slash wounds, not consistent w/ the attempt to remove flesh (Zahuranec 14).

Hunger is one reason for attacks. Searching for prey is a shark’s primary objective, according to Paul Budker, author of Life of Sharks. Budker says that sharks even show interest in attacking boats when they are hungry. Along the Australian shore, attacks on boats seem to occur where bathers do not generally go, but where the white shark abounds. Fishing boats are believed to be attacked more often because of the presence of fish on lines and fish already dead and in the boat. Budker says sharks must have an incredible sense of smell for them to be able to detect the fish in the boats. However, Dr. David Coppleson, author of Shark Attack, records that even canoes and racing boats have been attacked. Budker also says that sharks looking to mate can be more irritable and aggressive. Experimental studies on the mating habits of sharks have been difficult to carry out, and little is known about this subject.

Also, water temperature has an effect on sharks. Dr. Coppleson says that the water temperature that sharks seem to favor is around seventy degrees farinheight. If water temperature is above this, attacks may occur. Because of this, shark attacks are more likely to occur in warm summer months.

According to Budker, the fear of attacks is out of proportion to the risks. He says that shark attacks must be ranked far below the causes of premature death, car accidents, alcoholism, smoking, and rabid dogs (Budker 134).

According to Jose Castro, author of Sharks of the North American Waters, humans are not included in any shark’s diet. Castro says that sharks and their eating habits evolved many years before man existed. Sharks feed on fish and other marine animals. Attacks on humans usually only happen when a person is handling a hooked shark or when spear fisherman are handling fish. Castro also says sharks have acute senses to detect wounded or dying fish, and they attack them because they are easier to catch, and this preserves their energy. Sharks must also balance their energy between chasing and capturing prey. A wounded fish lets of olfactory, auditory, electric, and visual stimuli that attract the shark, and the shark may attack a fisherman handling the wounded prey. A diver’s behavior can also attract sharks. Divers in black wet suits, letting out bubbles, and splashing on the surface, resembling a seal will attract sharks, and an attack may occur. Sharks usually do not pursue the attack after the initial bite, perhaps because sharks do not like the taste of human flesh. Sharks in a feeding frenzy may indeed devour victims of plane and boat disasters, however, a clear case of intentional attack on humans. And finally, according to Castro, sharks may be territorial, causing problems for divers and swimmers.

On the other hand, according to Victor G. Springer and Joy P. Gold, authors of Sharks in Question, sharks do pose a threat to humans in water. Shark attacks may have increased, and if so, the increase may be due to an increase in the number of people participating in water sports. Springer and Gold also suggest that as a result of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1973, there may be in increase in population of certain species of sharks and a population increase in other marine animals that sharks feed on. Springer and Gold also suggest that there may not be an increase in attacks, but an increase in the attacks being reported. Whatever the reasons for attack, they agree chances of attack are not great (Springer and Gold 133).

According to Springer and Gold, biologists are not exactly sure why sharks attack humans. It is known that sounds and movement will attract sharks, but little is known about what happens when sharks become hungry. Baldridge, writing for the “Shark Attack Files,” estimates that from half to three-quarters of shark attacks on humans may have been attacks that had nothing to do with feeding.

Sharks may mistake a surfer for a seal, or splashing swimmers for fish. Even normal human body secretions may be an attractant for sharks. Sharks usually bump or ram into a victim before taking a bite out of them. When ramming or bumping, victims will have lacerations and abrasions, which is sometimes considered an attack. Also, because bites on victims are similar to the courtship bites of males on females, even sex has been considered a motivation factor. Springer and Gold also agree with Castro that sharks may be territorial and perceive humans as a threat, and therefore attack.

In David Capuzzo’s book, Close to Shore, shark expert Dr. Lucus reasoned that given the weakness of even the largest shark’s jaws, a man would lose a leg only “if a shark thirty feet or more in length happened to catch the man fairly close to the knee joint where no severing of the bone was necessary (Capuzzo 182). In reference to the 1916 New Jersey attacks, a series of shark attacks along the Jersey shore; a shark was not capable of biting cleanly through the bone and therefore could not have been the animal that bit off the legs below the knee of a victim. He also says, “certainly no shark recorded as having been taken in these waters could possibly perform such an act ( Capuzzo 182). Coppleson believed shark attacks began with rising popularity of beaches for recreational use at the turn of the century. He says water temperature can now explain cluster attacks.

Capuzzo also says that scientists have found evidence that sharks attack more frequently during very high tides caused by gravitational pull of the moon. A preliminary study by researchers at the “Shark Attack Files” has found worldwide correlation between “the phases of the moon, the height of the tides, and the frequency of shark attacks (Capuzzo 228). George Burgess, president of the “Shark Attack Files” says researchers are still studying this phenomenon.

Many of these researchers, shark experts, and biologists share the same thoughts on why sharks attack and the likelihood of an attack. Most agree that sharks do not attack because they want to eat humans, but they attack because they may be territorial, defensive, mistaking humans for seals, and because they smell fish in the vicinity of humans. They also agree that a person is thirty times more likely to be struck by lightning than attacked by a shark. Researchers also say that sharks have incredible senses and can detect dead or injured fish. One must assume that a shark, with all his keen smell senses, should be able to detect the odor of a human and back off before an attack. There is no scientific explanation of why sharks still attack humans, despite their keen sense of smell.

Some say shark attack numbers have not risen greatly, that the numbers are still low. According to the Time article, “Why Can’t We Be Friends? A Horrific attack raises old fears, but new research reveals surprising keys to shark behavior,” shark attacks have been on the rise in recent years. However, the numbers remain minuscule compared to the number of deaths caused by car accidents, drug overdose, lightning strikes, and other causes of death. In 2000, there were seventy-nine unprovoked attacks compared with the fifty-eight attacks in 1999, and fifty-four in 1998. Two-thirds of these attacks happened in U.S waters, on surfers, boogie-boarders and swimmers. The article also states that one is more likely to be killed by lightning-thirty times to be exact. Ironically, people seem to be more frightened by the thought of being eaten by a shark than by being struck by lightning. Perhaps is it simply the gruesomeness of a shark attack that is so upsetting.

In the same Time article, researchers say that usually younger, inexperienced sharks attack humans, and they are not sure why. Most researchers think that sharks can detect the difference between the taste of human flesh, and they spit out human flesh.

Researchers also say that there has been an increase in shark attacks in Hawaii, which may be due to the increase in sea turtles. The turtles swim close to shore and the sharks feed on them, this bringing them closer to human swimmers. The human victims of shark attacks are intruders rather than targeted prey.

Attacks also occur because of shark feeding tours. Scientists know how dangerous sharks can be, and are critical of these tours. Sharks know the sounds of motors on boats and associate the sounds with food.

According to the article “Harvest of Blame” in National Fisherman, over-fishing is increasing the number of shark attacks. Severe federal restrictions on shark harvesting in the gulf and the Atlantic, along with increasing lure of the bait-filled sanctuaries in Florida, have greatly increased the number of attacks and the chances of interaction with the humans. Danny Raffield, part owner of Raffield Fisheries, says that there is no shark fishing activity in Florida to scare the sharks off.

A new University of Florida study shows that the annual 2001 total of seventy-two six unprovoked attacks worldwide was less than the eighty-five recorded in 200, and fatalities declined from twelve to five in the same period, according to George Burgess, director of the “Shark Attack Files.” Perhaps the media has reported on the attacks more because the attacks have been on younger children, such as Jessie Arbogast in Florida. A shark while swimming attacked the little boy. Media has definitely played a major part in frightening the public about shark attacks, even though shark attack numbers have stayed the same through out the recent years. Shark attacks do appear to be out of hunger, defense, and simple mistake. Sharks do have an acute sense of smell, which is why it is confusing as to why they still attack humans.

In our minds, sharks represent s clear and present danger while we are out it the oceans. Humans tend to have an unreasonable fear and hatred towards sharks. Many of us no very little scientific knowledge of sharks, so we are emotional when it comes to shark attacks and what the media has to say about them. Jaws movies as well as in increase in the media attention given to sharks and shark attacks over the years has caused humans to fear and despise sharks. People are more of afraid of shark attacks than they are of dying because of drunk drivers, lightning, drugs, and car accidents. Perhaps this is because sharks are other living, breathing creatures, and we as humans recognize that killing is a horrible action, as well as because of the media attention given to sharks.

Despite shark attacks, some people feel that one is venturing into shark territory when entering the ocean. Even some victims of shark attacks share this view. Jonothan Mozo, a Hawaiian photographer who lives in Oahu was surfing one morning and was attacked. He says, “I have no hard feelings of hatred against the sharks. I don’t want revenge. I don’t think they should be eliminated. We are not masters of the sea. If it were our territory we’d have been born with gills and fins. I was out there a guest in his world. I just feel lucky enough he let me live.”