UH-Manoa researches use trackers to monitor shark movements around Maui.
Source: Hawaii Tribune-Herald and The Associated Press (Honolulu).
Shark attacks near Maui are prompting UH-Manoa researchers to figure out why the attacks have increased in recent months. Andrew Rossiter, the director of the Waikiki Aquarium believes swimmers are entering the water at the same time sharks tend to search for food. That mixture can be fatal if the shark bites first. Experts say that sharks will attack if provoked or "if they believe an object is food." University of Hawaii – Manoa researchers have been using tracking devices to study tiger shark movements around Maui and Oahu since 2013. Researchers are following 24 sharks in Hawaiian Waters. Data reveal a cluster of sharks around Maui. Experts believe the risk of being bitten is extremely small. To further reduce the risk of a shark attack, stay out of the water at dawn, dusk, and night when sharks feed. Don’t enter the water if you’re bleeding and don’t wear high-contrast clothing or jewelry. And most important, don’t swim in murky water. Aloha, Russ.