Shark Wrangler Warns of more Shark Bites in 2017

Statement and Warning from Ken, June 5, 2017

I know, "tell us something we don't know, Ken". For several years now, I have been warning of the dangers of an exploding shark population.  Well, the early Southeast reports are in...

The water temperatures caused by our mild winter have affected some migratory paths. Early reports from commercial fishermen confirm statement of over 5 years that the shark populations are reaching unseen levels this year compared to the last 15 years. One trawler crewman said, "I have worked on trawler decks shrimping for over 20 years and I have never seen so many sharks following us ever!" The difference being the diversity of species. In the past, tigers, blacktips, spinners and blacknose sharks were the main species trolling behind the shrimp boats and that would begin later in June not in May. This year they showed up early and big, last month. The trawler crew reported that nets require daily patching at the end of the day due to sharks tearing into them. This is unusual for this time of year here. It may also indicate the size of shark that is tearing into the nets. With the intentional shutdown of much of our shark fishery, shark populations are exploding and they are competing for food.

We have already caught 3 nice tiger sharks, the smallest being about 9'6". Normally we would see them in the heat of June not in May, SO CLOSE TO SHORE. As like last year with the warming of the coastal waters being steep and sudden and sharks moving early, I am concerned that more sharks will end up in NC waters like Oak Island and other areas around bathers. Also as the shark population is increasing and they appear to be competing for food, we could see an increase in bites on humans. If the summer heat is excessive (and it looks like a hot summer), lemon sharks and bull sharks will also be highly active in the mix and competing for food close to shore and possibly inshore.

While you are not likely to be bitten by a shark, I still would warn you to use good judgment, common sense and see if the practices you should avoid are helpful to you.  As before, I do not recommend stopping swimming or avoiding the water.  Just use extra caution when you see large fins or multiple fins and when you see large bait schools moving down a beach.  Please, do not panic this week as the Cownose Ray migration is still underway. If you see two identical black or dark "shark fins" swimming parallel and popping up rhythmically and at the exact same time, that is most likely one of the coolest rays in the ocean swimming by you. They will be swimming in circles doing their mating dance shortly. If scared, they will disperse in all directions simultaneously. It may look like a school of tarpon hunting or small sharks. Do not freak out if it us just a school of rays going to the annual mating grounds. Simply use good judgment and be on alert. 

This is the main reason that I have been vocal and relentless in preaching proper management of sharks.  The current federal attempts to shut down the shark fishery have been disastrous for the industry that used to cull sharks and some policies may prove out as errors.  Banning entire species of sharks that are already on the rebound is leading to a population that is too large.  If it swells too much it will lead to the natural correction or collapse due to starvation and a waste of meat that could have been eaten by us.  The more certain outcome will be, that once the general shark population reaches a critical level creating too many human "attacks", people will turn on sharks once again and call for their eradication.  They could end up slaughtered rather than harvested for meat.  It is far better to maintain a balance between our necessary consumption of shark meat and the maintenance of a healthy breeding population.  Unfortunately, this demands more research and not the whimsical, baseless, and stupid policies of certain agents and agencies.  It requires real science and the states making the best decisions for their resources rather than a handful of office workers making life altering decisions for the masses.  I recommend that the public becomes more vocal at the state level to restructure their fishery management programs.

Field researchers and fishermen need to be shaping the decisions not bureaucrats in offices that do not understand or care about the environment but blindly push Agenda 2030 down our throats.  I understand that taking this stand put me on the radar and marked me as a political target, but, truth is truth (in fact I have suffered for over a year for publishing thiese facts for you).  I do not care.  I was taught to do the right thing and tell the truth no matter the cost.  My program of responsible harvesting has lost me a lot of income but it was the right thing to do and I haven't changed my stance in 20 years.  So, do the right thing and get involved.  Be a force in conserving our natural resources NOT ALLOWING BLIND PRESERVATION that destroys populations and resources. 

Make people aware of the precautions they should take when water temperatures are hot and shark populations are large.  Harvest what you want to eat and no more.  Don't injure and play with sharks when fishing.  Release them safely and undamaged when you are not harvesting them.  DO NOT feed or bait sharks when divers are in the area or you are diving.  Be careful and beware so that 2017 does not become...