By Jim Hulen-North MyrtleBeach ONLINE.com

North Myrtle Beach August 13, 2007--In one day, two shark attacks occurred off the S.C. coast line within 4 miles of each other. The first occurred at the Isle of Palms County Park and the second off Beachwood East in the Wild Dunes resort area.

Authorities said the bites were “significant but not life threatening,” but, as a precaution, closed the beach for two days.

The last shark attack at the isle of palms was almost five years ago.

Shark attacks are rare.

Consolidating information about shark attacks was a project initiated by the U.S. Navy in 1958 as part of an effort to develop shark repellent. Currently, the data is maintained and updated by the Florida Museum of Natural History and consists of 3,200 attack investigations over the 334 year period from 1670 to 2004.

Growing population and recreational preferences for beach vacations have increased the number of shark attacks but the incidence of attacks per capita has basically stayed the same rare occurrence over decades.

According to the Florida Museum of Natural History data, unlike the state of Florida in which half of the U.S. shark attacks occur, South Carolina has had less than ten percent of the attacks that historically occurred in Florida.

Twenty three shark attacks occurred in the last 10 years in South Carolina – none of which were fatal. The most recent fatal shark attacked recorded in South Carolina was in 1883.

The National Shark Research Consortium identifies several factors that contribute to the rate of shark attacks including beach topography, wave action, and density of food sources.

The topography of beaches in North Myrtle Beach helps minimize the incidences of shark attacks. Most attacks occur in near shore waters, typically inshore of a sandbar or between sandbars where sharks feed and can become trapped at low tide.

These types of sandbars are rarely near the North Myrtle Beach shoreline.

Rivers or streams that enter the Atlantic Ocean that might create sandbars are 50 miles or more north or south of the City. There is, however, one exception explained further in the article.

Areas with steep drop offs are also likely attack sites. Sharks congregate there because their natural food items also congregate in these areas.

North Myrtle Beach, unlike the Gulf Coast areas in Florida where most attacks occur, has a long slopping ocean bottom that is only 12 foot deep a quarter of mile from the shore line and only drops to 30 feet 30 miles out. This long, sloping ocean bottom also contributes to mild wave action. The high-energy waves of the Atlantic in Florida hurl smaller fish that sharks feed upon. Our area’s waves are mild except when driven by storms. The continental shelf, a rich source of food fish for sharks, is 50 miles out into the Atlantic Ocean from North Myrtle Beach unlike the east Florida Coast where it is sometimes within a mile of the shoreline.

Dr. Daniel C. Abel, Assistant Professor, Marine Science at Coastal Carolina also added some additional factors that make shark attacks in this area less likely than in Florida – water temperature, population concentrations and migratory habits.

“The Carolina coasts house the lesser aggressive sharks like the sandbar and bonnethead sharks. While it is true that the more aggressive Tiger and Bull sharks migrate into this area, their population density is higher in Florida than in the Coastal Carolinas.”

Dr. Abel is a marine biologist. His research focuses on understanding the ecology of sharks and rays along the S.C. coast.

Sharks migratory patterns are to move from cold water to warm water.

In the western Atlantic, bull sharks migrate north along the coast of the U.S. during summer, swimming as far north as Massachusetts, and then return to tropical climates when the coastal waters cool.

Tiger sharks also undergo similar seasonal migrations.

According to NOAA, this area has seven months with ocean water temperatures under 70 degrees Fahrenheit, while Miami, Florida maintains an ocean water temperature above that year round. This results in less time for sharks to be in our waters and more time required for sharks to return to our area from warmer waters.

Anecdotally supporting these facts, life-long resident, State Representative Tracy Edge said, “I am not aware of any attacks during my lifetime nor do I recall my parents or grandparents ever mentioning attacks, but sharks are out there. When I was a kid, we used to put a net out in the ocean to trap fish – sharks included – as the tide goes in and out. Once we caught seven sharks at one time. Sharks are out there, but apparently not the kind that attack.”

He went on to say, “Never, never can I recall anyone being bit.”

Nineteen year veteran, North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Beach Officer, David Capps said, “I can remember about 3 incidences in the past two years – all of them minor nips.”

He described two of them. “A surfer was in the water floating on his board, when a small eighteen inch shark clamped on his toe. He killed it and got his picture holding the shark in the North Myrtle Beach Times.”

The second incidence he described was really caused by foolish behavior on several people’s part.

Officer Capps continued, “A tiger shark was feeding on a school of bait fish in waist-deep water – creating a commotion. People actually waded out to get their picture taken petting the shark! The shark got confused and nipped people while trying to feed on the bait fish.”

Officer Capps cautioned, “There is one point where sharks congregate. Where drop-offs occur, bait fish congregate and so do sharks. A drop-off occurs where the Cherry Grove marsh enters the Atlantic at Hog inlet. At low tide, not knowing about the drop off, people are tempted to walk across the inlet to Watie’s Island. At low tide the drop is about 19 feet.”

So relax, understand shark behavior, where they congregate and, definitely, don’t pet them.

As Dr. Abel said, “The risks we all take on a daily basis makes the risk of a shark attack insignificant.”

If you are still concerned, choose to vacation in North Myrtle Beach instead of Charleston or Florida.