Terrors of the Deep
2001-08-17
Hundreds of sharks were recently sighted off central Florida’s west coast,prompting officials to warn swimmers and scientists to wonder what luredthem there.
Bull sharks, hammerheads and nurse sharks were among those spotted in theshallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico, northwest of Tampa. Some of the sharkswere up to 10 feet long. No one was bitten.
Terri Behling, a spokeswoman for Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, says it’s too early to speculate about what might be luring the sharks. She says it’s is not unusual for sharks to swim up and down the gulf coastline,following tarpon. But a congregation of so many different species isunusual, she adds.
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