Bull Sharks In Hawaii

Sharks are misunderstood

Near dawn on a pinkish June morning in the tall grass marsh on the bay side of Galveston’s West End, a school of 60 or more silvery bait fish dart through the surface waters, weaving and leaping erratically in the 2-to-3 foot shallows.

Suddenly the school of fish parts in the middle and a triangular fin emerges. The water is clear enough to see the shiny gray form of a young shark, about 3 feet long, with distinctive black markings on its fins. It glides through the water, swaying in a graceful S-curve, intent on catching breakfast. Moments later, mission accomplished, the shark disappears as quickly as it burst into view.

This rare glimpse of the wild world where a young shark is fending for himself, may in short order, become far more rare.

Under Pressure

After surviving in the Earth’s oceans for millions of years, some sharks are being brought to the brink of extinction by a movie, a soup, a sullied habitat and the myth that mankind and “jaws” are enemies in a struggle for supremacy.   

Worldwide there are more than 400 species of sharks, from the petite cat shark at 9 inches to the enormous whale shark that can grow to the size of a large school bus. Of these, 64 species of open ocean sharks and rays, are considered threatened, endangered or critically endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Few Protected

Only the white whale and basking sharks are protected internationally under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, and while the United States is considering federal protection of some shark species, none carry the official endangered designation.

Edging toward apocalypse with diminishing populations are the whale shark, which consumes huge amounts of plankton for its daily diet, the mysterious hammerhead and the striped tiger shark, all present in the Gulf’s waters, at least for now.

Bad Role

Sharks are cast as the boogeyman of the deep and the entire species is shrouded in myth and misinformation, said Enric Cortés, a research fishery biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He’d like to set the record straight.  

 “A shark is not a killing machine, and they do not hold grudges,” he said.

Light Eaters

“Most sharks eat infrequently and usually an amount that represents a very small proportion of their body weight daily.

Sharks in the Gulf of Mexico

There are roughly 49 species of sharks living in and around the Gulf of Mexico. Many keep to the deep waters of the ocean floor, feeding on the creatures found at such depths. Other species frequent the mid-range depths, but prefer to stay far from shore where small prey is abundant. There are a few species of sharks who choose to hunt the waters close to land and can be a nuisance to humans. Here, we will take a respectful look at these sharks, their behavior and how to avoid meeting them.

Bull Shark

The Bull shark can also be referred to as the Zambezi shark and the Nicaragua shark. Bull sharks are very large, growing up to eleven feet in length - although females grow larger. They can weigh over 500 pounds, thus their given name as ‘bull’. Their bite force has been measured at 1250 pounds per square inch. They are common in shallow warm waters along coasts and in rivers. The most notable characteristic of the Bull shark is its ability to tolerate fresh water, accounting for its common presence in rivers. Typical behavior for a Bull shark is aggressive, erratic movements and unpredictable choices of food. They will eat almost any living thing, even venomous jellyfish normally deadly to marine life. The Bull shark does pose a threat to humans, mainly because it dwells in shallow waters and is territorial - killing anything that enters its territory. It is thought that Bull sharks are responsible for the Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916, which was the inspiration for Peter Benchley’s novel Jaws.

Great White Shark

The Great White Shark is also referred to as Great White, White Pointer, White Shark or White Death. Males measure about the same as Bull shark, eleven feet, but females have been documented at 16 feet. However there are reports of Great Whites being seen at a length of 20 feet. Their body is long and thick with a white belly. The teeth of the Great White are some of the largest in marine life, measuring up to six inches long. Adding to the immensity of their power is the bite force, documented at 4000 pounds per square inch by the University of South Wales in Australia. The one characteristic of the Great White that sets it apart from other large sharks is its habit of ’spy-hopping’ or lifting its head above the surface of the water. They do this regularly, possibly because of their very curious nature. The curiosity of Great Whites may be why they attack humans. Many biologists speculate that the Great White is simply ‘tasting’ the person to see if they provide enough energy (fat) for a meal. According to their biology, the Great White’s digestive system is not appropriate for digesting a human body as we contain too many bones. Any fatalities that occur as a result of a Great White attack are purely due to blood loss.

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