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The Korea Coast Guard has put out a shark warning to units patrolling the West and South Sea coasts as the predators have been making unusually frequent appearances in these waters. Authorities say great white sharks can grow to 6.5 m and habitually attack people with their saw-like teeth.
The warning was prompted by the uncommon frequency of shark sightings this year. According to Coast Guard statistics, six people were killed by sharks between 1959 to 1996, but this year two sharks have already been caught in fishing nets in the waters off Yeosu, South Jeolla Province in April, and on June 7, a fishing boat dragged up a dead great white shark measuring 2 m that got caught in its nets in waters off Buan, North Jeolla Province. The animals owe their fearsome reputation in part to the Stephen Spielberg movie ˇ°Jawsˇ±.
On June 13, a diver was seriously injured when she was bitten by a shark off Taean County, South Chungcheong Province. Specialists say the unusual number of sharks in the West and South seas is due to a warm current taking seaweed to the region from the south -- something that happens every early May -- and mixing with the existing cool current, which creates ideal conditions for sharks between June and August.
Prof. Choe Yun of Kunsan National University said, ˇ°Sharks appear off the west and south coasts every year.ˇ±
Experts say when a shark discovers food, it circles the victim before suddenly launching itself at it. They say sharks will move into shallow waters when they are hungry and advise people to stay clear of shallow waters that suddenly slope off into great depth. Sharks often appear in muddy waters or in the evening as it grows dark, and while swimsuits in muted colors are safe, swimmers wearing light-colored outfits with dark stripes could make easy prey, the add.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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