Researchers from Brazil and abroad will gather for three days in Recife, capital of the northeastern Brazilian state of Pernambuco, to discuss measures such as placing protective nets in the ocean to stop the advance of sharks towards beaches and prevent attacks on bathers and surfers.
The researchers will be participating in the Third International Seminar on Shark Attacks, from Thursday, September 8, to Saturday, September 10, in the auditorium of the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE).
Professor Fábio Harzin, of the Rural University’s Fishing Department, informed that the proposals will serve to orient the efforts of members of the Committee to Monitor Shark Incidents, which operates with the support of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the state government, and the Recife municipal government.
According to Harzin, the committee’s work, which consists of the capture of sharks on expeditions along the state’s seacoast, research on their habits and reproductive biology, and orientations to teach visitors on areas of risk and rules of behavior for ventures into the ocean, is already showing results, since no new attacks have been registered in nearly a year.
Sixteen of the 46 victims of shark attacks along the Pernambuco seacoast in the last 13 years died. The others suffered serious injuries and mutilations.
Agência Brasil