My colleague Cameron Jefferies is big on saving the sharks. It would probably help his cause if sharks stayed away from humans and stopped attacking in increasing numbers.
But this recent story about why sharks have been attacking more frequently, especially in the Northeast of the United States, has given me some sympathy for the sharkophiles.
It turns out that the increasing population of cute and cuddly seals have been attracting the sharks. That makes sense, but why has the population of seals increaed? That is because, the story tells us, "[t]hey're protected because of the 1972 federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, which makes it illegal to harm these animals.With a life-span of 30-40 years, the seals will continue to be a tempting target for sharks along these waters."
Once again, the unitended consequences of good intentions are at play. The sharks need better PR.
The seals need to stop their partying ways (ok this bit is supposed to be in jest,and I know that these are Canadian baby seals not the bigger American ones in the story above):
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