“Reports from anglers almost unanimously agree that depredation has gotten much worse in the past 5 to 10 years,” Marcus Drymon, a shark scientist from Mississippi State University, said.
“Unfortunately, there is a pretty significant risk (to sharks) in terms of retaliation. This has been quantified through surveys with charter captains and commercial fishermen, two groups whose livelihoods are directly impacted by depredation.”
Bull sharks and sandbar sharks have been found to be responsible for the majority of shark depredation.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is studying these two species and gathering data on depredation events to try to solve the problem.
Additionally, the agency is looking for ways of protecting anglers’ catches, such as with shark deterrent technology.
The issue of shark depredation actually reflects broader troubles within the environment, suggesting that there is not an adequate amount of prey to satisfy both sharks and humans.
“It tells us our marine ecosystems are unstable and out of balance. We have to ensure there are enough fish to support our ecosystem predators (including humans) and enough healthy habitats for fish so they can disperse more widely,” stated Graham.
