Shark Advisory from City of Sanibel

Sanibel, Florida August 20, 2008
News Release - For Immediate Release
City of Sanibel, FL

SHARK ADVISORY

At 2:54 p.m. today, the Sanibel Police Department responded to an incident reported by the Lee County Sheriff's Department Marine Patrol Unit. According to the report, a 47 year-old male reported that he believed he was bitten on the right arm by a shark while swimming in front of the Sanibel Moorings, located at 845 East Gulf Drive. The caller further reported that he bandaged his injury himself and did not request or require any additional medical attention.

Sharks are found regularly along beaches in the Gulf of Mexico, however, attacks on humans by sharks are very rare. Chief Tomlinson stated, "Swimmers are reminded that even though the relative risk of a shark attack is very rare, in the interest of safety, certain precautions should always be taken."

Swim, dive or surf with other people -- never alone. Sharks are more likely to attack a solitary individual.

Avoid swimming between sandbars, near steep drop-offs, near channels or at river mouths where sharks are found.

Avoid wearing shiny jewelry that might simulate the scales of a prey fish, and also avoid uneven tanning and contrasting, bright-colored clothing.

Don't swim at dusk or at night.

Refrain from excessive splashing.

Keep pets and domestic animals, with their erratic movements, out of the water.

Don't swim near people who are fishing or spear-fishing, chumming or using live bait.

Avoid spreading blood or human wastes in the water. Do not enter the water if bleeding from an open wound or if menstruating - a shark's olfactory ability is acute.

If schooling fish start to behave erratically or congregate in large numbers, leave the area. Diving seabirds are good indicators of schooling bait fish or feeding activity.

Sightings of porpoises do not indicate the absence of sharks, both often eat the same food items.

If a shark is sighted in the area, leave the water as calmly and quickly as possible.

Do not harass a shark if one is spotted.

Additional information can be obtained from www.mote.org/sharks or at www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks