Mexican authorities announced on December 30 that a fisherman had been attacked and killed by a shark while fishing for scallops the previous day.
“The body of the young man was brought to the Yavalos docks by fellow fishermen. The young man was a free fisherman and did not have a shark bracelet on him. “We call on fishermen to officially register and take the necessary precautions to carry out their activities,” the Mexican state of Sonora's Civil Protection Coordination Office tweeted in Spanish.
Please save the Pescadores of Yabalos.
The Pescador Libre of the El Joven era does not contain brazarete, repellent, or antitiburon.
— Conservation Sonora (@cepcsonora) December 30, 2023
The victim, identified as 22-year-old Victor Alejandro Soto Garcia, died from severe injuries to his left leg from the great white shark, Mexico News Daily reported. report. The newspaper reported that five fishermen were killed in shark attacks in Sonora state in 2022 and 2023. (Teen surfer dies after shark bites off leg in front of father: report)
Fisherman dies after being bitten on leg by great white shark while diving for scallops https://t.co/mUm15msk0U pic.twitter.com/zAvr1ZfZaa
— New York Post (@nypost) January 8, 2024
Sharks are opportunistic hunters and usually only attack humans “when confused or curious.” according to to the National Oceanic Service. Humans are not part of the typical shark diet, the agency noted.
Florida Museum of Natural History International Shark Attack File investigated In 2022, there were 108 alleged shark attacks on humans worldwide, with 57 classified as unprovoked.
Shark repellents come in many different forms. Some emit electrical pulses in the water that disrupt the shark's ability to zero in on prey, while others simply emit an odor that sharks find appetizing, CBS News reported. report.
