Watch: Humans swimming with sharks at Israeli beach after months of fatal attack causes concern
Along the central coast of Israel, near the city of Hadera, black shark fins have become a regular sight during the colder months. Attracted by the warm water generated by the turbines of a nearby power station, these sharks—mainly Dusky and Sandbar species—gather close to shore between November and May.
While the area has long drawn curious swimmers and nature enthusiasts, a tragic incident last month has sparked new concern. A man who got too close to the sharks was fatally attacked, with only his bones being recovered, news agency AFP reported.
People crowding sharks may have led to attack on missing man off Israeli coast; AP explains
The attack, believed to be the first of its kind in Israeli waters, has raised questions about safety and how to prevent such incidents in the future.
Irene Nurit Cohn, a diver with the rescue group Zaka, said the sharks are generally not aggressive unless provoked.
"Sharks do not harm and never normally attack unless they feel either threatened or if somebody's getting into their territory," she said. "People were touching them and disturbing them."
She added that the increasing media coverage drew even more people to the beach, further worsening the situation.
According to shark researcher Leigh Livine, who has been monitoring the site for four years, the sharks previously avoided direct contact with humans. However, with limited space, rising sea temperatures and harassment of humans, there has been an increase in the frequency of encounters.
"You have a very, very small space that you see this human-wildlife conflict really coming out at certain times of the year," expressing shock at the recent attack. However, she was surprised that " something hasn't happened sooner."
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