Emerald Isle and Pine Knoll Shores Restrict Beach Activities Due To Recent Shark Attacks
Two beach towns on the North Carolina coast have restricted activities following eight shark attacks that have occurred so far this summer alone on the North Carolina coast. Emerald Isle has banned shark fishing
for the remainder of the summer until the middle of September. Pine Knoll Shores has defined 10 beach access areas for swimming only, no fishing will be allowed in these swim only beach access
areas. Both towns hope these restrictions will help prevent future shark attacks. The North Carolina coast has had eight different shark attacks since June 11 and officials hope separating swimming areas from fishing areas will prevent more shark attacks. Fishermen using certain bait on their line could be attracting sharks to come closer to shore where swimming, surfing and other water activities occur. Many of the eight attacks occurred while the swimmers where in only waist deep water just a few yards from shore.
Eight shark attacks have occurred over the last several weeks at different locations up and down the North Carolina coast. The first shark attack occurred at Ocean Isle Beach on June 11. Two teens were attacked on June 14 at Oak Island, both teenagers lost a limb. On June 24 at Surf City an eight year old boy was attacked. On June 27 another teenage was attacked near the pier at Waves. A man was bitten by a shark while in the ocean at Avon on June 26. On July 1 a man on Ocracoke Island was attacked by a shark. And on July 4 a marine was bitten by a shark and had to be treated for his injuries.
This dramatic number of shark attacks in North Carolina is very unusual with eight attacks being three times higher than normal in a whole year. With several weeks left of summer some North Carolina beach towns are having to rethink beach area and activity restrictions due to the unprecedented number of shark attacks that have taken place on the North Carolina coast this summer.
