Tourist died in shark attack involving species previously thought to be harmless - Daily Record

A tragic incident unfolded off the coast of Israel near Hadera, where a tourist lost his life after being attacked by dusky sharks, a species previously considered harmless to humans. The man was swimming and filming roughly 100 meters from shore when he suddenly found himself surrounded by a group of these sharks. Eyewitnesses reported that one shark appeared to lunge at his GoPro camera just before the man was heard screaming for help, saying, "Help... they're biting me." Moments later, he disappeared beneath the water, as the sea quickly turned red, with shark fins breaking the surface. Rescue teams were dispatched immediately, but by the time they reached the scene, the man was gone. The next day, search operations recovered small human remains, which forensic tests confirmed belonged to the victim. The investigation revealed that multiple sharks were involved in the attack, suggesting a feeding frenzy rather than a single isolated bite. Dusky sharks, which can grow up to 3 meters (about 10 feet) long, generally have a timid nature and avoid humans. However, experts believe this rare and deadly attack resulted from an unusual combination of factors. The area near Hadera benefits from warm water discharged by coastal desalination plants, which, along with food waste dumped into the sea, has attracted a higher number of sharks. Local boat operators catering to tourists have been feeding the dusky sharks fish scraps to keep them close for viewing, inadvertently encouraging the sharks to associate humans with food. Scientists have observed these sharks actively approaching divers and swimmers, sometimes brushing against them in search of handouts. This new "begging" behavior has altered their natural instincts, leading to more aggressive interactions. The competitive feeding environment has likely triggered a frenzy among the sharks, overriding their usual caution around humans and provoking multiple bites during encounters. In their report published in the journal Ethology, researchers described the attack as a combination of two stages: an initial reflexive or clumsy bite caused by the sharks’ begging behavior, followed by several predatory bites driven by the feeding frenzy. The study emphasized the urgent need to prevent further fatalities by eliminating the artificial feeding of sharks. They strongly recommend a complete ban on public feeding of dusky sharks, noting that other measures would be less effective unless this primary step is enforced. The incident has raised serious questions about human interactions with marine wildlife and the unintended consequences of tourism practices. The increase in shark numbers and their shift in behavior underscore the importance of responsible wildlife management to avoid provoking dangerous situations. Authorities and tour operators now face pressure to reconsider feeding practices and implement stricter regulations to protect both humans and sharks in the region.