Comments on: Divers report seeing great white shark off La Jolla Cove

By: Sean Van Sommeran

Sean Van Sommeran — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 10:22:22 +0000

Johnathon,
That was cheap, rather then allege a fiendish preference on behalf of the various conservation, marine mammal and wildlife management concerns involved with this issue one could question the motive of those who insist on relaxing and bathing at a beachhead well known for not only seals, sealions and sharks but bottlenose dolphins, shoals off bait fish, sea birds etc. It is the ocean after all, and La Jolla has a hysteria about sharks dating back to the late 1950's and it's absurd to discuss shark sightings as anything new, or unusual in terms of alleged menace.

I think perspective and individual responsibility should be taken into account, water quality, including curbside runoff and sewage is more of a hazard these days than the sharks are.

Support Ca AB 376 (end sharkfin poaching in California)

By: Jonathon

Jonathon — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 17:40:54 +0000

Would you have clicked on this if it was about Salmon Sharks? I wouldnt have. Journalism is a pale shade of what it once was, its mostly our fault for allowing it for so long. As I live on the East Coast I am not familiar with La Jollas seal issues but I agree that cultivating an environment where there are excessive numbers of these animals near popular swimming areas is a recipe for disaster. Sadly some (not all by any means) environuts would rather have people attacked by a Great White then harm a seal.

By: npk32

npk32 — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 22:41:00 +0000

Why doesn't the Light check with the Pelagic Shark Research Foundation before reporting on a story like this? It's too bad that the same facts being overlooked by reporters will be overlooked by the pro shared access crowd as well.

By: Fact Checker

Fact Checker — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 19:58:04 +0000

90%? Explain to us where you get these statistics!

By: Sean Van Sommeran

Sean Van Sommeran — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 08:54:41 +0000

These so called menacing white shark reports are in fact 'Salmon sharks' (Lamna ditropis), the white sharks come thru in the Spring and early Summer while the juvenile salmon sharks move south during winter from Alaska/Aleutians to Northern Mexico and deepmoffshore Eastern Pacific. The Pelagic Shark Research Foundation and the California Dept of Fish and Game have together with UC researchers gathered several beached salmon sharks in recent weeks. All of these specimens were initially reported as 'baby white sharks' when in fact they are proven to be juvenile salmon sharks (1-2 yo) every time. White shark popilations are NOT rapidly increasing and in fact most reports are erroneous and/or bogus claims. Even if it were a juvenile white sharks they dont prey on seals until subadult or adult (8-10 feet long) and appear uninterested in humans anyway. The shark's bad reputation coupled with public misinformation lends itself to rumor and the ever hysterical 'Shark Attack Industry' which doesnt get any biznitch unless people are scared of or alarmed by the fact that sharks are in the ocean.

Enjoy the sea, there are a great many swimming pools and hot tubs for those who resent or want to control the ocean and it's denizens.

We live in an ocean paradise with dolphins, whales, seals and of course sharks.
When one considers the number of people in and out of the water on a seasonal/daily basis one can see that the sharks are in fact very well behaved and just doing there job.

Hurray for California!!!
Cheers,
Sean

S.R. Van Sommeran
Executive Director
Pelagic Shark Research Foundation
Santa Cruz California
Since 1990 — Now on facebook!!!