Rash of attacks prompts study of Maui waters

A state-funded study to look at tiger shark movements around Maui is scheduled to begin next month in the wake of an alarming jump in shark attacks and the life-threatening injury of a visitor from Germany last week.

"We’ve seen an unprecedented spike," William Aila Jr., director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, said Tuesday.

The $186,000 two-year study will examine the behavior of tiger sharks on Maui compared with the other main Hawaiian Islands.

Aila, who announced details of the study at a news conference, extended prayers and well wishes to Jana Lutteropp, who lost an arm in an attack off White Rock in South Maui on Aug. 14.

The most recent incident, which put a Hawaii island 16-year-old in the hospital, was on Sunday.

Aila said going into the ocean is safe but that people should be cautious.

"We certainly don’t recommend anyone swimming by themselves a mile from shore. We certainly don’t recommend anyone swimming while injured," he said.

Aila said the prevailing theory for why there has been an increase in shark bites is that there are more people in the water and that almost 40 to 50 years have passed since shark-culling was in practice, "so we have a great number of tiger sharks that have been born and matured since then that are now roaming our waters."

Aila said more people and more sharks increase the potential for interaction. The number of attacks has varied in the last two decades, including years with none, he said.

In recent years there have been on average three or four incidents per year, with occasional spikes. However, he called this current increase unprecedented.

Aila said the state confirmed 10 attacks in 2012, the highest number ever recorded.

Since January there have been eight, including four in the last month. Four of those occurred on Maui, the state said.

Historically, October through December are the months when shark incidents increase.

"This is part of traditional Hawaiian knowledge, reinforced by our own statistics," Aila said. "So we urge people to be extra cautious and follow our suggestions for reducing the chances of being bit."

Carl Meyer, a Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology researcher, said sharks are known to swim to shore.

"I’d say that that’s routine behavior for sharks," he said. "They’re doing it all the time. It’s just most of the time people don’t see them. … Most of the time there’s no interaction with people whatsoever."

The state said spikes in shark attacks occur worldwide and noted recent increases ranging from West Australia and Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean to Egypt and Brazil.

Aila said sharks play an important role in the marine ecosystem and that the ocean is their home.

"We’re the visitors. Going into the ocean is a wilderness experience," he said. "There are animals out there that can hurt you."