Dwindling Shark Prey May Threaten Swimmers

Overfishing of shark prey in the Atlantic Ocean means sharks are coming closer to shore to find food and may mistake swimmers for a meal, according to research by U.S. oceanographers. Stocks of a common shark prey known as menhaden fish are at critically low levels in the Atlantic, said Richard Condrey, associate professor of oceanography and coastal studies at Louisiana State University.

“That means sharks are getting more aggressive about finding alternative food sources and are more likely to come closer to shore, where they mistake swimmers for prey,” Condrey said. While the Gulf Coast had a large stock of menhaden, with 50% of the adults reproducing under current fishing conditions, Condrey said the Atlantic menhaden population has dwindled to a 3% reproduction rate.