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Study Confirms First Fatal Dusky Shark Attack, Reconstructs Feeding-Frenzy Trigger Off Israel

A peer-reviewed Ethology case study attributes the April Hadera death to shark habituation from artificial feeding, concentrated by warm-water discharge.

Overview

  • Marine biologists Eric Clua and Kristian Parton detail the case in Ethology, identifying the incident as the first documented fatal attack by dusky sharks.
  • The victim, a 40-year-old tourist, was snorkeling about 100 meters off Hadera on April 21 while filming with a GoPro when he cried for help and vanished as the water turned red.
  • Search teams recovered small human remains the next day, enabling forensic identification and supporting the conclusion that several sharks devoured him.
  • Researchers reconstruct that a shark lunged at the camera, bit the man instead, and the resulting blood and cues triggered a competitive feeding frenzy among congregating sharks.
  • The study links the risk to warm-water discharge that concentrates sharks and to artificial provisioning that fosters “begging” behavior, recommending a ban on feeding and warning against any cull.