Does dredging disturb habitat, altering marine animal behavior?
I don’t know whether the dredging at New Smyrna has anything to do with the unusual number of shark bites reported, but it seems to me anytime we tamper with habitat, we often achieve more results than those we hope for. [Note: I have a call in to the Ichthyology staff about the impact of dredging on shark behavior. I’ll update this column as soon as I hear back from the staffer in charge.] Update to story, April 30: I talked to expert George Burgess late yesterday afternoon. When I asked him if dredging might increase potential for shark attacks, he said no. However, dredging does sometimes stir up the water, creating murky conditions. So a shark may be more prone to misidentifying prey. “But they’re not hugely affected [by dredging],” he said. On the subject of jetties, it’s good to bear in mind that often, what sharks like to eat are in that area. In my opinion, the latest attacks come down to this: exercise caution, pay attention to beach warnings, and if you or someone else spots
