When swimming in the ocean, avoid wearing shiny, colorful swimsuits, and do not swim too early or too late, especially do not enter the water if you have any bleeding wounds… to prevent shark attacks.
According to Dr. Vo Van Quang, among the more than 360 species of sharks, based on the number of attacks on humans worldwide, there are four species that are very dangerous to humans: great white shark, tiger shark, bull shark, and mako shark. Statistics indicate that the probability of a person being attacked by a shark is 1 in 11.5 million, and the chance of being bitten to death is 1 in 264.1 million.
Sharks typically appear in deep, offshore waters. Recently, sharks have been trending closer to shore, possibly due to climate change and rising sea temperatures, which cause fish to migrate from the southern Spratly Islands closer to the coast. This is due to the ecological characteristics of sharks, which usually inhabit deep ocean waters.
Sharks rarely attack humans in nature.
Dr. Vo Van Quang from the Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography states that based on the ecological characteristics of sharks, it is possible to prevent shark bites.
The most recognizable signs to avoid include not swimming during bad weather, especially when the sky is overcast. Do not swim out alone or in beaches that are too deserted. Avoid wearing clothing that has shiny colors and patterns resembling fish scales, as these types of outfits can attract sharks.
If you have cuts or are bleeding, do not swim in the ocean, or only swim close to the shore. Sharks have an excellent ability to detect the scent of blood from distances of up to several kilometers.
Additionally, the timing of swimming is quite important. Do not swim at dawn before the sun rises or at dusk after the sun sets. Specifically, it is advisable to avoid swimming before 6 AM and after 6 PM because sharks have a biological tendency to hunt most actively during these times. Most people who believe they have been attacked by sharks were swimming during these hours.
In agreement, Dr. Nguyen Khiem Son also mentioned that sharks detect prey using various senses such as sound waves, heartbeat, surface movement, and observing light colors… This explains why pearl divers in the past often painted stripes on their bodies to avoid shark attacks.
It is not advisable to swim alone in secluded areas, and those who are injured should only swim near the shore. Particularly on rough sea days, the strong winds often push sharks closer to the shore, and people should avoid swimming during these times.
Sharks very rarely attack humans in nature. Therefore, if you happen to encounter a shark, the first thing to do is to remain calm. A racing heart can transmit sound waves to the shark, leading it to think you are prey. Currently, there are no guidelines in Vietnam for cases of shark attacks.
According to experts, besides sharks, there are also other species that can attack humans. Aggressive fish or small schools of fish often appear in bays because these areas provide favorable conditions for them to reside and feed. Furthermore, there are often lobster farming cages nearby with plenty of bait inside, which also attracts these fish. The El Niño phenomenon also raises water temperatures and turbidity, causing these fish species to move closer to shore.
