RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A newly released federal study shows a record number of sharks swimming off the coast from Florida to North Carolina.
The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk reports that the increase in sharks comes when North Carolina set a record for shark attacks this summer.
SUMMER ATTACKS:
- June 27: Man, 18, bitten in Outer Banks near Rodanthe, N.C.
- June 26: Man attacked at Hunting Island Beach, S.C.
- June 26: Man, 47, bitten on the back off Avon on Hatteras Island, N.C.
- June 23: 9-year-old boy nipped on St. Helena Island while standing in about 12 inches of water.
- June 24: Boy, 8, receives minor leg and foot injuries at Surf City, N.C.
- June 14: Two teens attacked within minutes of each other at Oak Island, N.C.
- June 11: Teen bitten at Ocean Isle, N.C.
- August 20: 15-year-old bit on hand, leg by shark in South Carolina
Eight people have been attacked by sharks along the North Carolina coast this year, the most since a Florida group began counting attacks 80 years ago.
LINKS:
The new study showed that researchers tagged more 2,835 sharks from Florida to North Carolina in April and May. That compares with more than 1,831 sharks tagged in the most recent survey in 2012.
- WATCH: Shark scientist George Burgess talks about "unique situation" on coast:
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The most common species were sandbar, Atlantic sharpnose, dusky and tiger sharks.
The largest captured was a 12-1/2-foot tiger shark off the North Carolina coast.
- INTERACTIVE MAP: See where the attacks happened in the Carolinas:
<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=zonpsxM5FK4c.k9jpx_gbYhwM" width="400" height="300"></iframe>
SHARK ATTACK HISTORICAL DATA:
CLICK HERE to see more about shark attacks in North Carolina (Source: Shark Research Institute, Inc.):
WSOC
