June
Bahamian waters are not as dangerous as you think.
Every year, there are invariably high-profile incidents of shark encounters that are breathlessly described in the media as attacks. It also seems that when news of an encounter is broadcasted, there are other incidents reported in the following days, giving rise to the perception that shark encounters are rampant in the Bahamas.
Earlier this year, news of a shark attack at the Bimini Bay Resort was announced on all major U.S. news networks. The stories centered around the significant injuries suffered by the two female victims, and the heroic stories of their rescue and subsequent transport by private aircraft to a Miami hospital for emergency treatment. Some outlets amplified the circumstances of the story further by adding references to a Level 2 U.S. State Department travel advisory that mentioned the possibility of shark attacks in a laundry list of water hazards which also included possible sexual assaults by Jet Ski operators.
Based on the reports, one would be reluctant to even travel to the Bahamas, let alone enter the water, yet the truth is millions of people visit the Bahamas every year, most of whom swim and dive without incident. Details are important, and what was not reported in the Bimini case was the two women were jumping off the swim platform of their private yacht docked in a marina, despite posted signs prohibiting swimming within the marina. To make matters worse, they did it after dark.
Subscribe Here For More Boating Content
The signs exist for a reason because the fish cleaning stations found in most Bahamian marinas provide a ready source of food for sharks. It does not take an in-depth Internet search to locate photos of schools of sharks congregating in marinas looking for an easy meal. They are conditioned to equate the splashing sound of fish remnants dropped into
the water as a dinner bell. The competition for food can be intense, and it would not be hyperbole to describe the action after a fish head hits the water as a feeding frenzy.
The unfortunate incident in Bimini was echoed days later when a man was bitten by a shark at Highbourne Cay Marina while he was riding an electric water toy within the marina basin. The man was evacuated to Nassau for treatment of his injuries. Again, the fact that he was swimming in a prohibited area was not reported and was eclipsed under the headline of “third victim in less than a week.”
The reality is in a country that has largely clear tropical waters with abundant fish stocks, sharks are everywhere in the Bahamas. Despite the ubiquitous presence of these apex predators, according to the Shark Research Institute, there have only been 38 confirmed cases of Bahamian shark attacks since records were kept, starting in the 19th century. The Florida Museum, which also maintains a worldwide file of shark attacks, ranks the Bahamas as ninth overall in terms of shark encounters.
There are a few examples of unprovoked attacks, but they are exceedingly rare and certainly rarer than many other water hazards. Sharks should not be feared, but arguably, relaxing to the point of swimming with the sharks, drink in hand, and taking selfies might be lowering your guard a bit too much. At the end of the day, sharks should be treated with respect. If you swim near a marina, swim only during periods of good light, and stay away from areas where sharks are fed. You will avoid being mentioned on the news, while still enjoying Bahamian waters to the fullest.
-By Addison Chan
Related Posts
