Sharks taking refuge from humans in deep water

| 14/03/2022 | 15 Comments
Caribbean reef shark videoed in deep water

(CNS): Three Caribbean reef sharks were caught on camera at a depth of around 300 feet off the coast of West Bay, Grand Cayman, last week. Experts from the Department of Environment said the footage of the three healthy sharks, two female and one male, demonstrates that while they remain one of the dominant predators on our reefs, they are seeking refuge in deeper water to escape the impact of human disturbances, such as boat traffic and watersports activities.

The video of the sharks was captured on a baited remote underwater video system, which is part of a two-year survey that the DoE is conducting on our deep marine environment that will document the habitat and species, including sharks, down to 6,500 feet deep.

“Fish, like sharks, are attracted to the scent of the bait and recorded by cameras while the habitat is surveyed by cameras as well as technical divers,” the DoE said. “The videos are then analysed by scientists who record all the data collected.”

The research is a collaboration between the DoE, Marine Conservation International, Beneath the Waves, and Heriot-Watt University. It is funded by the UK’s Darwin Plus project with support from the Cayman Islands Brewary’s Whitetip Fund.

The footage follows a recent sighting in South Sound of a 10-foot female tiger shark, which was filmed feeding on a sea turtle carcass that was floating on the surface of the water. Although turtles are among tiger sharks’ natural prey, it is unclear if she hunted the turtle herself or was attracted to the smell of the carcass.

DoE experts said that this was another example of a healthy marine ecosystem and that contrary to popular belief, sharks are not interested in eating humans. Anyone who sees a shark should stay calm. It’s OK to snap a photo but people should not approach or engage with sharks but should calmly exit the water and observe it from the boat.

“We can happily coexist with our ocean neighbours with a little respect, appreciation and commonsense,” said the DoE on social media. “Sharks are attracted to certain smells in the water, like the turtle carcass, or oily fish like tuna, or fish guts. So if there’s anything like that in the water, sharks might pass by looking for free food.

“This is why it’s important that people visiting Stingray City or the Sandbar not use anything other than squid or ballyhoo to feed the rays. Any other forms of chum (fish bits) may not only attract a curious shark but may also encourage the animal to associate the presence of people with food, a commonly occurring behaviour when wildlife is fed.”

It is illegal to feed or attract sharks anywhere in Cayman waters and within the Wildlife Interaction Zone. Only approved foods can be fed to the rays.

See the video footage here.


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Category: Marine Environment, Science & Nature

Comments (15)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Hiding from the normal human activities that have been on hold for the last two years? We don’t have full cruise ship noise (yet) or full scuba diving industry, or fishing charters. Exactly what human activities does DoE hypothecate these sharks are hiding from? Not their own bait lures it seems.

  2. HJacques says:

    Forget these sharks. Concentrate on the land sharks flogging you their wares.

  3. Crab Claw says:

    This is such a huge gaslighting article, of course, you will find sharks at 300 feet if you set bait for them that deep.

    This is all about the DOE’s next tyrannical plan, they are actually in the process of finding excuses to ban the general public from the oceans and the main reason is going to be human distrubance.

    Look forward to the quiet seas project coming in line soon.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Somebody should tell this to guy harvey “This is why it’s important that people visiting Stingray City or the Sandbar not use anything other than squid or ballyhoo to feed the rays. Any other forms of chum (fish bits) may not only attract a curious shark but may also encourage the animal to associate the presence of people with food, a commonly occurring behaviour when wildlife is fed.”

    • Anonymous says:

      Absolute garbage; there are many many many photos showing sharks at the Sandbar circling the tourists when squid is being used to feed the stingrays.

      Sharks are attracted to smell; and squid, fish and people provide plenty of that to attract them.

  5. Anonymous says:

    or probably just hiding from our scumbag ‘fishermen’…

  6. Anonymous says:

    Ironic that DoE suggests the sharks are favouring deeper water to escape human interaction yet there we are – interacting and photographing at 300′ – even remotely.

    If it’s believed the sharks prefers to be left alone in deep water – do just that! No minisubs, no robot cameras, simply assume they’re there and leave them alone!

  7. Anonymous says:

    How can one tell from this that sharks are seeking deeper water to avoid disturbances? If you put out bait at 300 ft. You will get sharks at 300 ft. The premise might be true, but his doesn’t do much to prove it.

  8. Anonymous says:

    Honestly..u cant go snorkelling in little cayman without seeing a shark or sharks…hope we dont wind up with attacks like the bahamas…but it goid to see nature restoring itself…

  9. Anonymous says:

    Are DoE suggesting that sharks don’t eat squid or ballyhoo?

    • Anonymous says:

      3:50 Sharks don’t eat squid or ballyhoo. They don’t naturally hunt these so yes the DOE is indeed suggesting this. They are attracted to fish with a high oil content like jacks, tuna, and mackerel.

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