Sharks have become more common in the waters of coastal metropolitan areas, despite the common myth that they avoid the waste-contaminated waters of coastal cities.
Scientists recently conducted a study on shark vision modeling. Scientists were trying to figure out why sharks bite surfers. It turned out they mistook the athletes for pinnipeds.
Scientists studied the movements of three shark species - the bull shark, the nurse shark and the giant hammerhead shark on the Miami coast. Researchers found that the predators spend a lot of time near the shore, as if they didn't notice the light, sound and chemical pollution in the sea water. They were probably attracted, like other animals, by readily available food, food scraps dumped into the water and fishery waste.
This unusual behavior can have consequences for the sharks themselves as well as for humans. Swimming in waters with high levels of chemicals is unlikely to be beneficial to marine fish. They themselves could threaten careless people in the water.
As an option, scientists suggest restricting access to some areas of Miami's coastline where shark activity is highest.
Continued urbanization of the seashore and food pollution in the ocean will continue to attract hungry sharks to cities.