A POPULAR holiday destination has been dubbed “the shark capital of the world”.
New Smyrna Beach is a seemingly idyllic paradise known for its pristine sands and perfect surf, but beneath the waves lurks a darker reality.
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Here, where thrill-seekers flock for a taste of the ocean, bloodthirsty predators lurk just out of sight, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
With alarming frequency, swimmers and surfers find themselves in terrifying encounters, as these underwater hunters shred limbs and leave behind a trail of fear in the water.
Experts say that unlike anywhere else on Earth, including Spain and Egypt, Florida’s New Smyrna Beach is a prime hotspot for shark bites.
The surf destination claims the ominous accolade, with five shark attacks recorded last year, according to International Shark Attack Figures.
And another two shark attacks occurred in two days just last month, USA Today reports.
One targeted a 26-year-old male who was wading through five feet of water, while the other targeted a 21-year-old who was playing American football in knee-deep water.
And in August, a firefighter from Florida was bitten by a shark that saw him suffer two torn tendons.
The seven attacks so far recorded in 2024 are already in a scary rampage towards the 16 bites recorded in the entire state of Florida in 2023, according to Pensacola News Journal.
Although the beach is a picturesque location on the Atlantic Ocean, it is also dangerously with hurricanes and rip currents.
Shark researcher Dr Gavin Naylor believes that New Smyrna Beach holds the eerie title due to a “confluence of factors”.
He told the Daily Star: “You find so many bites [in Volusia County] and not so many in other places, it tells you that something about that region is conducive toward shark bites, which is not in other places.”
“You need a bunch of sharks, and they need to be in the mood to bite things, and you need a bunch of people in the same area at the same time.”
The evolutionary biologist clarified that there is a 40ft-deep dredge in the Ponce Inlet outflow, which enters the Atlantic directly north of New Smyrna Beach.
Dr Naylor explained: “Water comes in and out with the tide, and it brings a lot of nutrients.
“As it curves down, it mixes with the other current, and there is a really great surf break.”
Great surf and nutrient-rich water combine to make the nearby beaches “a perfect spot” for fish and surfers alike, the shark expert said.
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Blacktip sharks, in particular, prey on the mullet and menhadens that swim in the seas.
Dr Naylor added: “Blacktip sharks go to that little patch of water, because there are all sorts of food in there.
“Also, because of the surf, it’s very turbid and the sharks can’t see very well.
“So now you’ve got these sharks that are all jingled up and trying to find their lunch, swimming all over the place chasing mullet and menhaden in low visibility water, plus 50 or 60 people with arms and legs dangling off the edge of their boards looking for their perfect wave.”
The expert believes that it’s only a matter of time until famished blacktip sharks confuse a foot or limb for a fish.
“Fortunately, most of the sharks in that area are highly piscivorous sharks, such as blacktips and spinners,” Dr Naylor said.
“If they were bull sharks or tiger sharks, they might stick around a little bit more and the injuries would be a lot worse.”
DANGEROUS REPUTATION
According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), Volusia County, where New Smyrna Beach is located, consistently records the highest number of shark bites annually.
Over the years, the sheer number of incidents, albeit mostly minor, has cemented New Smyrna Beach’s reputation.
New Smyrna Beach is close to Ponce Inlet, a narrow waterway that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Intracoastal Waterway.
This inlet creates strong tidal flows, which attract a variety of fish and, consequently, sharks.
The concentration of prey fish in this area makes it an ideal hunting ground for the water beasts.
The warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean along New Smyrna Beach are home to an abundant array of marine life, which includes fish, rays, and other sea creatures that sharks feed on.
The high density of prey species in these waters is another major factor in the presence of sharks.
New Smyrna Beach is a popular destination for surfers due to its consistent waves.
Surfers spend a lot of time in the water and, from below, their silhouettes can resemble the prey of many shark species.
This increases the likelihood of sharks mistaking them for food, leading to more frequent encounters.
The beach is also one of Florida’s most visited, attracting locals and tourists alike.
With so many people in the water, the probability of shark encounters naturally rises.
New Smyrna Beach consistently records a high number of shark bites each year.
In some years, it has accounted for more than half of all shark attacks in the entire state of Florida.
For instance, in 2020, Volusia County, where New Smyrna Beach is located, accounted for 50 per cent of all shark bites in Florida.
But despite the frequent incidents, fatalities are extremely rare.
The vast majority of shark bites at New Smyrna Beach are minor, involving only one or two quick bites before the shark swims away.
