Lunar cycles may be of particular interest to sharks, just as they are to werewolf legends and astrology enthusiasts. New research claims that shark attacks occur more frequently during the phases of the moon closer to the full moon.
In the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, scientists from Louisiana State University and the University of Florida reviewed 55 years of data on shark attacks from the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File. As a result of this examination, it was seen that there was a clear relationship between shark attacks and moon phases; More shark attacks occur during periods of higher lunar illumination, and fewer attacks occur during periods of lower illumination.
However, the reason for this interesting situation is not known exactly. While it may be thought to be related to moonlight making prey more visible by illuminating the sea, researchers suspect other factors are at play.
Two possible candidates for these other factors would be the moon’s gravitational effect on ocean tides, and perhaps even its effect on the electromagnetic fields that sharks and many other creatures use to navigate.
“This increase is not due to more light at night for sharks to see,” said Steve Midway, associate professor of science at Louisiana State University and study author. “Most shark attacks occur in daylight. However, the Moon does not reach Earth and its oceans elsewhere in much more subtle ways. “For example, the gravity we see affects the tides,” he said.
While the researchers acknowledge that the relationship between the phases of the Moon and shark attacks may not be causal, they believe the link is strong enough to warrant further investigation.
“The plethora of data we have suggests that there is something out there that is worth continuing to look at,” Midway added.
It is also worth remembering that shark attacks are extremely rare. The International Shark Attack File reported and confirmed 57 unprovoked shark attacks and 39 provoked attacks worldwide in 2020. There were 13 shark-related deaths that year, but generally only four unprovoked deaths occur annually worldwide. The researchers also point out that you are 100 times more likely to be bitten by a human in New York than by a shark in the United States.
In contrast, human attacks on sharks are much more common. Studies show that humans are responsible for about 100 million shark deaths each year. . .
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