U.S. registers sharp drop in shark attacks last year
04.03.10
Surfers and the plethora of other extreme sports enthusiasts may find comfort in the news of shark attacks in the Allied States declined in 2009, according to a dispatch from the University of Florida, published Monday.
"The great thing is that the number of attacks in the states of mind even dropped dramatically from 41 in 2008 to 28 in 2009," said George Burgess, numero uno of the International Shark Attack File of University. "Bearing in mind there were 50 attacks in 2007, we may have a bit of a trend, but only time will tell."
A conceivability of declining attacks in the United Statescoastal waters may be that fewer people have visited the coast due to subsidence.
"The population of Florida has not declined, so I put the economy could affect the number of times people can afford to put gas in their cars and go to the coast, has Burgess added.
Worldwide is another story, however, with a slight increase in weight of both attacks is paid from age 60 in 2008 to 61 in 2009.
Source: Los Angeles Times (blog)
Freediving fightback
04.03.10
THE gauntlet will be thrown down later in the year as two state freediving champions – and good friends – spur each other for top honours in the sport.
Earlier this year Curtis Coast Spearfishing Stick member Natt Keene was named number one in Australia for the potent apnea (length underwater) and second for constant weight (abysm) and static (time-based) categories after solid performances at the Universal Freediving Challenge in New Zealand.
His efforts knocked clubmate John Pengelly form the dynamic throne, a title he held in 2009.
Pengelly only recently returned to the incredible after he was attacked by a shark while diving at Lamont Reef late last year.
But the passionate waterman said he revelled in the competition.
“I love it. Natty’s one of my finest mates and I’ve been looking for someone to give me a challenge,” Pengelly said.
The former fighter said he wouldn’t be back to peak condition until around August this year and conceded that his continually out of the water had given Keene time to catch up.
Source: Gladstone Observer