What types of sharks call the Gulf of Mexico home? Here are the main species.
There are more than 100 species of sharks in the Gulf of Mexico. After a series of recent attacks, experts talk about the types of sharks and how beachgoers can take precautions this summer. The Gulf of Mexico has over 100 species of sharks, skates and rays in its waters, according to NOAA shark biologist John Carlson. The most common shark species are the Atlantic blacktip shark, the spinner shark and the Atlantic Blacknose shark, which is heavily commercially fished for its meat. Sharks come in all shapes and sizes, from small and harmless to deadly. The sizes of these sharks can vary greatly, from the Atlantic sharpnose to the great hammerhead. Despite these incidents, there hasn't been a shark attack in the area in almost 20 years. There are several safety measures for beachgoers, including avoiding swimming during poor visibility or wearing flashy jewelry in the water.
Publié : il y a 10 mois par Julia Guilbeau dans Environment
Summer beach goers across the Gulf Coast have been on high alert following three shark attacks along the Florida Panhandle that happened mere miles form each other last week. While scientists say shark attacks, especially multiple on the same day, are an exceptionally rare event, it's important for residents in Louisiana and along the coast to be cautious and aware of the types of sharks they may encounter while in waters in the Gulf of Mexico. Sharks come in all shapes and sizes of course, from small and harmless to huge and deadly. It's not immediately clear what type of sharks may have been involved in the recent attacks.
In fact, the Gulf of Mexico has over 100 species of sharks, skates and rays in its waters. "Sharks are a natural part of the ecosystem," NOAA shark biologist John Carlson said, "just like everything from plankton up to whales." "They all have an integral part of the ecosystem." Along the coast, the Gulf has up to 12 different species of coastal sharks that can be seen around shores during summer time, according to Carlson. A few of the most abundant shark species in the Gulf of Mexico are the Atlantic blacktip shark, the spinner shark and the Atlantic blacknose shark, according to the NOAAs Fisheries department. The Atlantic sharpnose shark is also one of the common sharks in the Gulf, according to the Environment Texas Research & Policy Center, and one of the sharks is that is heavily commercially fished for its meat.
The sizes of the different shark species that hang around the Gulf coasts can range tremendously, from the Atlantic sharpnose shark, which grows to be only a couple of feet, to the great hammerhead, which can reach up to 12 feet, said Carlson. Shark species like bull sharks and tiger sharks are the ones that are most commonly thought of when talking about dangerous encounters with humans, Carlson said. That's mainly because of their larger size and the fact that they prey on larger food items like sea turtles, which the sharks can sometimes (though rarely) mistake for humans on surf or wake boards. When it comes to species found in the deeper waters of the Gulf, those can include mako sharks, blue sharks and even more elusive species like goblin sharks, lanternsharks and sleep sharks.
Here's a look at some of the most common species in the Gulf in coastal and deep sea waters, from smallest to largest. Tips for staying safe at the beach Summer is the time of the year when coastal sharks come closer inland in search of warmer waters to give birth, according to Carlson. Unfortunately, this coincides with the time of year that humans are also flocking to beaches to hang out in the water.
Still, shark incidents are incredibly rare, and before last week, there hadn't been a shark attack in the area in almost 20 years. The sharks will start to move out towards the fall as the waters get colder, but until then, there are still a few precautions Carlson and other experts say you can take to keep yourself safe while at the beach.
• Avoid swimming in the ocean during the times of day where visibility is poor, like dawn or dusk.
• Avoid swimming in areas where schools of bait fish are moving through the water.
• Don't wear flashy jewelry like bracelets or anklets in the water.
• Don't get in the water if you're bleeding or have an open wound.
• Remain alert when going in the water while there is a purple flag flying.
• Get out of the water if a shark is spotted.
The great white shark, the world's largest predatory fish, is what most people picture when they hear the word shark. Traditionally, the Gulf of Mexico hasn't been thought of as great white territory. However, several great whites have been tracked in the deep waters of the area already this year, one of which pinged as far west as Matamoros, Mexico. Researchers say this offers evidence of both a promising recovery in shark populations near the U.S. and show just how little we know about great whites.