National Geographic: Global Warming Might Be Causing Shark Attacks

http://www.newsmax.com/US/National-Geographic-Shark-Attacks/2015/07/01/id/653128/

Global warming might be to blame for the high number of shark attacks off the coast of North Carolina, according to one biologist.

"Clearly global climate change is a reality and it has resulted in warmer temperatures in certain places at certain times," George H. Burgess, the director of the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History, told National Geographic.

The story looks at five reasons that created what Burgess called "a perfect storm," which led to six shark attacks in recent weeks. The state had just four in all of 2014.

Among the reasons listed by National Geographic are warmer water temperatures and warmer weather, the latter which causes people to flock to the beaches and jump in the water to cool off. The more people in the water, the story argues, the more likely a shark attack will happen.

But not everyone is buying the claim.

"It's very common this time of year between Florida and the Carolinas to have these sorts of incidents," Ocearch founder Chris Fischer said Monday.

"We're at the peak of abundance. In the Carolinas, there's the maximum amount of bait, maximum amount of game fish there, which brings the predators in."

The recent spate of shark attacks is not just happening in North Carolina. A 65-year-old snorkeler was killed after being attacked off the coast of Maui in late April.

Two weeks ago, a half-eaten dolphin carcass washed ashore in New Jersey, frightening beachgoers. One expert, however, said the dolphin was likely dead before whatever got it — most likely a shark.

Last summer, Google said sharks were damaging its underwater fiberoptic cables in the Pacific Ocean with their teeth, which forced the technology giant to strengthen them.