Aquaculture Foundation of India & The Fisheries Technocrats Forum
Abstract
From time immemorial sharks have been
the object of amusement for the sea faring
men and anglers and they were fished for
sports. At certain times of history they were
dreaded as monsters of the sea because of the
ravage they wrought on bathers, fishermen and
their boats. Even the very appearance of an
heavily built creature with open mouth full of
sharp and ferocious teeth and black fins gives
a fearsome apparition to unarmed people taking
bath ill the shallow waters. Of all the 350
species of sharks inhabiting the seas of the
globe, only less than 35 species are aggressive
and attack human beings, boats and other
objects. While it is true that there are a few
ana,cks sporadically on human beings throughout
the world, recent findings have shown that one
, is less likely to be attacked by a shark than
having a serious accident at bome or in the
roads. One should give a wide berth to larger
sharks considering their size and speed of action.
Even a slight contact with their abrasive skin
may resnlt in severe lacerations and damage
will be irreparable. One should also avoid
bathing in sea with fresh wounds especially
when sharks are around