Shark Attack in Israel

On April 21, a diver, Barak Tzach, 40, a father of four, was attacked and killed by sharks 100 yards off Olga beach in the Sharon region. It's a unique area where sharks and rays aggregate at the outlet of the warm waters of the power stations. Horrified beachgoers videoed the attack before the diver disappeared beneath the surface in a cloud of blood. But the problem is not the sharks, but the people. Amos Nachoum, who knows sharks better than anyone and was born in Israel, said on Facebook:

"This is sad for the family . . . We are lucky there were no more injuries and accidents, due to lack of respect, understanding, negligent, and aggressive behavior around wildlife . . . The real story is not just about the painful accident, it is about what led to it. When you see now the presence of children in the shallow water and sharks swimming between them, the description of people who were holding the shark's back finding a free ride, this is worthless and harassment. . . Sharks should be treated like all wildlife in shape, with knowledge and with the guidance of experience."

Tzach had entered the water equipped with mask, fins, and snorkel, and GoPro camera on a selfie-stick, intent on recording images of the sharks. According to The Times, researchers at the Paris Sciences et Lettres (France) say a surge in the number of shark bites is down due to social media influencers encouraging tourists to stroke the predators.

Four days after the attack, the Times of Israel reported, "Visitors could be seen wading in up to their thighs to throw dead fish at the creatures to bring them closer. Not a single police officer or patrol car was in sight. A man who got within a few meters of a shark said, "Did you see when I threw him the dead fish, and he ate it?" Dusky and sandbar sharks are among the most common; sandbar sharks typically grow up to 2.5 meters (8 feet), while dusky sharks can reach 11 feet.