Shark Alert Issued in West Coast Area
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A shark alert was issued by authorities in Pasco County after hundreds of sharks were seen swimming in the Gulf of Mexico near a popular beach on the state’s west coast.
Swimmers and boaters were warned by the Sheriff’s Office to avoid the area off the coast of New Port Richey, a few miles northwest of Tampa. Marine experts said the sharks were in the area to feed off schools of fish.
Video taken by local television stations showed the sharks swimming near the shore as small boats passed over or near them. No attacks were reported.
In a horrific attack last month off the coast near Pensacola, an 8-year-old boy had an arm torn off by a bull shark. The arm was surgically reattached.
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