Better Off Wet Winter 2016

ENVIRONMENT
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The good news, according to marine biologists,
is that the shark population is important to
Florida’s marine ecosystem, so they deserve a
vote of thanks for helping to preserve our pristine
waters that offer a great waterway lifestyle
to locals and tourists.
Like New Yorkers and Canadians, sharks don’t
like the cold. Their survival depends on southward
migration. They seem to prefer water
that’s about 73 degrees, according to Professor
Kajiura, which is typical of South Florida in the
winter.
Sharks like to eat, so they track food. Since
many other fish follow similar migration patterns
as sharks, sharks can stay on their “tails”.
Ask any avid Florida angler about the abundance
of fish in our coastal waters during winter
and you’ll be assured that sharks have a full
menu filled with a great variety of cuisine.
Don’t wear shiny jewelry in the water. Leave
this to fishermen who like to use shiny lures to
attract fish.
Be observant. A big school of fish such as mullets,
herring, or squads of diving seabirds is
indicative that larger predators will soon be attracted
to the area for a delicious lunch.
Okay, now you’ve decreased your odds of a
shark encounter, so you can confidently enjoy
great water sports all winter long.
Winter is one of the best times to enjoy South
Florida, so don’t be alarmed if you read one of
the recent many articles about shark migration.
It’s part of nature’s way of keeping our locale
such an attraction. So get moving! Get outside
and get wet!
Now think about how attractive 73-degree
water and a sun-filled sky can be during frigid
winter months. Again, don’t worry about the
sharks. However, if you want to remain extra
safe, follow these tips:
Try to avoid swimming between sand bars.
These are not the safest places to swim even
without sharks present. Sharks tend to hang
out between sand bars to feed.
Don’t swim around jetties or openings from the
ocean into a bay. Water moves fast in those areas
posing a threat to even the strongest swimmer
and also carries lots of food for awaiting
sharks.
8 BETTER OFF WET | WINTER 2016