There has been a lot of speculation as to what might have triggered the recent string of shark attacks off of Sharm el-Sheikh. Up until yesterday, claims of an Australian cargo ship dumping sheep carcasses into the sea seemed to be getting the most attention (see above video). However, when news agencies like Ahram Online reported that General Abdel-Fadeel Shosha, governor of South Sinai, suggested that Israel’s Mossad might be responsible for the recent shark attacks at Sharm el-Sheikh, media outlets started jumping on this “explanation” left and right.

According to Ahram Online a “specialist” introduced as Captain Mustafa Ismail claimed on the television program “Egypt Today” that the species of sharks involved in the recent attacks does not live in Egypt’s waters and implied, according to Ahram Online, that the sharks were being monitored via GPS to attack only in Egyptian waters.

The Ahram Online report goes on to state that Abdel-Fadeel Shosha, identified as governor of South Sinai, said in a phone call to “Egypt Today” that it was possible that Mossad was behind the incidents in an effort to undermine the tourism industry in Egypt, and more time was needed to investigate the theory.

BBC News reported similar statements from the South Sinai governor, whom they identify as Mohamed Abdul Fadil Shousha (slight spelling difference from the Ahram article). The BBC News article quotes Shousha as having reportedly said, “What is being said about the Mossad throwing the deadly shark [in the sea] to hit tourism in Egypt is not out of the question, but it needs time to confirm.”

It should be noted that the Ahram Online includes statements from marine biologist Mahmoud Hanafy of Suez Canal University which refutes claims that the shark species involved in the attacks are not naturally found in Egyptian waters. Hanafy called the conspiracy theory “sad.”

Egypt’s Chamber of Diving and Water Sports (CDWS) has announced that a team of researches is being brought in to “assess and advise on the best course of action” after four shark attacks in less than a week’s time off the Egyptian resort area of Sharm el-Sheikh.

The team will consist of

• George Burgess (Director, Florida Program for Shark Research)
• Dr. Marie Levine (Executive Director, Shark Research Institute)
• Dr Erich Ritter (SharkSchool)
• Ralph Collier (Shark Research Committee)

The CDWS reports that Burgess, Levine, and Collier will be traveling to Egypt, while Ritter will be “assisting from his research centre based in the USA.” Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism will be funding the team.

Additionally, it is expected that a majority of Sharm el-Sheikh will be open to diving today (December 7), for experienced divers only, while snorkeling and all other water sports will continue to be suspended in the area.

BBC News is reporting that another shark attack has occurred at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. Sadly, the victim, an elderly German woman, was fatally attacked by a shark while snorkeling off of the resort in Egypt.

The recent attack comes only days after 3 other people were attacked by what has been reported as an adult oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus).

It should be noted, a recent release from Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA) has stated that one of the reported attacks has since been discounted and the injuries sustained were the result of contact with coral, though the BBC along with some other major news outlets are still reporting that four attacks occurred last week.

While the beaches of Sharm el-Sheikh had initially been closed due to last week’s attacks, they were re-opened after environment ministry officials claimed to have caught and killed two sharks, which were reportedly identified as having been the sharks responsible for the previous attacks.

Video (seen above) and photographs of the capture of shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) were released by the environment ministry, along with the claim that the captured mako shark was responsible for the attacks. However, photographs shot by divers, of an oceanic whitetip shark involved in at least one of the attacks seemed to discredit the environment ministry claim that the mako shark they had captured was responsible for the attacks. It was later reported that a second shark, an oceanic whitetip, reportedly also involved in at least one of the attacks was captured and killed. However, HEPCA maintains that the photographs of the oceanic whitetip, taken by divers, do match up with the photographs of the captured oceanic whitetip, and that it is clear that they are not the same shark.

Beaches in the area have been closed down once again, following this most recent attack. Zuhair Garana, the Egyptian Tourism Minister, has stated that biologists are being brought in to investigate what might have triggered the string of attacks. The string of attacks is being considered highly unusual and many are left baffled as to what might be contributing to the repeated attacks.

Speculation that sharks may be in area due to the dumping of sheep carcasses by an Australian cargo ship has been widely reported across many media outlets including the BBC News article. However, there is nothing regarding this speculation that seems to indicate or explain why a shark or sharks would be targeting humans.

The Irish Times recently published an article titled, “Why sharks are guilty until proven innocent,” which addresses some of the measures of response taken after the recent shark attacks at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

The article touches on the topics of killing sharks as a response to shark attacks and using captured sharks as scapegoats to preserve the image of resort areas to maintain tourism. The article also mentions how feeding and chumming sharks has been the target of blame for some shark attacks including an attack last June on a snorkeler off Saint John’s reef in the Red Sea.

To read the article in its entirety, head on over to the Irish Times.

Well, alright, maybe you haven’t been waiting for it at all, but here it is anyway…the trailer for the most anticipated prehistoric shark versus ginormous crocodile movie of the year. (Yes, I know, it’s the ONLY prehistoric shark versus ginormous crocodile movie of the year.)

While the sequel to “Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus” sadly does not feature a return of acting greats Lorenzo Lamas and Debbie Gibson…oops, I mean DEBORAH Gibson (it sounds so much more sophisticated that way), The Asylum has still managed to pull in at least one big time actor. Jaleel White of Family Matters fame (alright, “fame” might be a bit of stretch) leads the cast of “Mega Shark vs Crocosaurus.”

Despite the lack of some key returning cast members from the original “Mega Shark” battle, it’s clear from the trailer that viewers can expect a return of mind-numbing special effects in this sequel.

“Mega Shark vs Crocosaurus” hits the home video market on December 21…just in time for Christmas!

The Red Sea shark attack story seems to be getting stranger as more conflicting reports surface. According to a BBC News report, the Egyptian environment ministry have claimed that the shark responsible for attacking four people on Wednesday has been captured and is being held at a local national marine park. The environment ministry released a photo of the captured shark suspected of the attacks. However, Egyptian dive industry officials are claiming that they have photos of the shark responsible for the attacks, and it is not the same shark as the one captured by the environment ministry.

To make matters more confusing, the shark involved in the attacks has been widely reported as being an oceanic whitetip shark, but the captured shark featured in the photo from the BBC News article appears to be a mako.

The BBC News report comes on the heels of reports that two sharks were captured and sent to be dissected to determine if either was responsible for the attacks.

Additionally, The Washington Post reported that one victim lost a hand and another lost a leg in the attacks, while BBC News reports that one victim lost an arm and another lost a hand.

Among all of the conflicting reports, one thing seems fairly consistent, and that is the report that one of the victims is in critical condition. If this information is true, let us all hope for a recovery for the critical patient, as well as the others injured in these attacks, regardless of the circumstances surrounding them.

According to a Washington Post report two oceanic whitetip sharks suspected of being responsible for attacking four people in two separate incidents have been captured. The attacks took place off Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt on Wednesday. The victims included 3 Russians and a Ukranian, one of whom remains in critical condition, according to various other sources.

Following the attacks, beaches along the Sharm el-Sheikh were closed, and water activities were suspended. One of the captured sharks was reportedly identified as the shark involved in one of the attack incidents by a diver who rescued an attack victim. The shark was recognizable based on identifiable damage to its dorsal fin, according to a Ria Novosti report. The Washington Post article notes that both sharks captured were sent to Ras Mohammed Conservation Center to be dissected in attempt to find ingested human flesh.

Attacks by oceanic whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus) are considered to be extremely rare, according to statistics and shark experts. Richard Pierce of Shark Trust was quoted as saying that the attacks were likely the result of a “specific event or activity.” According to a statement from Egypt’s Chamber of Diving and Watersports (CDWS), the CDWS is working with shark experts and officials to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attacks, which include “possible indications of illegal fishing or feeding in the area.”

It should be noted that various media outlets are reporting different versions of this story. In fact, the CDWS statement notes that three people were attacked in three separate instances, while the Washington Post report lists four victims involved in two separate incidents.

Thanks to H E Sawyer for bringing this unfolding story to my attention.

YouTube user greatoutdoorsdublin recently posted the above video of a basking shark feeding among a group of kayakers. While most of the kayakers seem to appreciate the visit, one of them (identified as Eileen in the video information) can be heard expressing her apparent lack of enjoyment about it all.

Eileen’s worries are fortunately unnecessary as the basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus), despite its size, is a filter feeder and is relatively harmless to just about everything other than plankton.

Oddly enough, an image on page 34 of Top 10 Deadliest Sharks bares a striking resemblance to this photo, right down to the small injury on the upper jaw. It's a shame they omitted the birthmark behind the eye.

USA Today is reporting that Discovery Channel is now developing graphic novels. The article titled “Discovery Channel dives into fiction” reports that Zenoscope Comics will be producing the graphic novels which will be aimed at the 9 and older “youth market.”

The first comic, “Top 10 Deadliest Sharks,” will be available on December 1. Representatives from Discovery and Zenoscope were quick to state that “Top 10 Deadliest Sharks” is intended to be educational and not just an attempt to scare readers.

The video above was recently posted by YouTube user shawkvanray and was apparently shot for WildAid. The video follows Pete Knights as he investigates Indonesia’s dwindling shark populations as a result of overfishing.

As the video illustrates, while the reefs appear to be healthy sharks are few and far between in the area, and larger sharks are almost non-existent. With the shark market drying up, focus is being shifted toward harvesting some of the larger reef fish, as fishermen are forced to move down the food chain.

In related news, WildAid reports that Raja Ampat’s Misool Eco Resort recently expanded its Marine Conservation Area to cover nearly 468 square miles. The newly expanded conservation area prohibits the killing, capturing, and removal of any wildlife.