Windsurfer recounts 45-minute encounter with a shark

C.Mallia

Aug 11th 2010, 14:58

Did you know that sharks site seeing in Malta Could be effected by climate change? Now that the climate in Malta is getting hotter, Malta is becoming a host to many species which are adapted to this type of water. Do you remember the Man-O-Warrior (jellyfish) sited in the beginning of this year?? Do you think it came to Malta for a holiday ? -- it came because of Climate change and i will keep on saying this.

Another story: Yesterday on my way back to Malta from Gozo .. me and my family saw something in the water. It was 9pm in the dark and the Ferry's lights outside were switched off for some reason or another. I thought it was a low flying bird but some saw it as a FIN .. i don't know if it was a bird or a fish .. i know many people will start reporting more shark sightings after the news of this windsurfer, but i am not making it all up and what i've saw may be some kind of shark.

anyway ... i'm glad david is still in one piece :)

Fenech MD

Aug 11th 2010, 14:38

Are we sure that the increase in the number of sharks seen too close to our shores is not due to the Tuna fish farms?

Andy Fransson

Aug 11th 2010, 10:47

Well, I do not know if this is true or not but the effect is severe... Now I need to do present a lot of counter arguments to my wife before she lets me go windsurfing :)

Joke aside, luckily no one was hurt - thank God for that. But even if this is true, a single relatively harmless encounter, does not pose threat to everyone. No need to panic.

Face it we live on an island surrounded by open sea... We all have to accept the fact that there are risks involved when you go out on the sea, whether on a surfboard or a cruiser...

J.Camilleri

Aug 11th 2010, 09:45

Why all this fuss when the famous discovery channel filmed about great white sharks in Malta. it's obvious even now with all these massive ships coming into our seas. Not surprised at all with this lucky escape news.

Charlene Gauci

Aug 11th 2010, 07:58

as far as i know the shark does not turn upside down. how come he said it turned and he saw its white side? if a shark is turned upside down it will enter a trans and sort of be hpnothized.

nella bencini

Aug 11th 2010, 02:04

Between Dec 09 and march '10, while swimming in Fond Ghadir area, I spotted not one but two fins, and in both cases I was told they may have been 'tuna' ! About a month or so ago, again I spotted a fin going in a straight line between Exiles and Fond Ghadir... and the next morning, a tuna was found in the same area. So what's not to believe with this story?
We have fish farms which are too close to land, and we have endless cruise liners and sharks are known to follow them. See National Geographic on this subject, as well as the experiences of some of those who have encountered them and commented on this page.
I don't blame David Bonavia for not wanting to return to windsurfing, just like I will think twiice about swimming in winter on my own.

John Zammit

Aug 10th 2010, 23:06

I'm very sorry to say, but i find it very hard to believe that the shark did attack the sail. From my experience of windsurfing, when one panicks while being strapped on the harness, the immediate reaction is to fall onto the sail- since youre tied to it., which more often than not, results in the sail tearing. Also, the bite marks that show on his sail, resemble nothing at all like a real shark bite...it would look more like: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01449/surfboard_1449697i.jpg
The fact that his 'bite mark' is a hole in the center of the sail makes me doubt even more the entry point of the shark since no sides were touched!
Im not saying he didnt see the shark..im sure he did, but it is more likely that he panicked and tore the sail himself than anything else..... thats just my theory.

Joseph Galea

Aug 10th 2010, 23:03

May I ask, why all this scepticism?! Someone saw a shark, so what? why its so hard to believe?

For your information, there are 47 different species of sharks in the Mediterranean, 15 of them potentially dangerous. And guess what, Malta is located in the center of the Mediterranean and the waters around Malta, which are rich in migratory fish and tuna are one of their preferred spots.

The waters around Filfla are also a well know breeding area for white sharks (hance the area is protected)

So lets face the truth, its not that difficult to encounter a shark in Maltese waters (even if this truth hurts the turism industry who would prefer to keep this information hidden from everyone)

So, lets stop bla bla and say the guy is making everything up. He didnt said that he saw a talking shark, he said that he saw a shark which is perfectly normal and not something out of this world! (Like many people are trying to make it!)

John Buhagiar

Aug 10th 2010, 22:23

I don't know why so many are sceptical in believing this man...this is not a debatble sighting but a clear encounter...if it was not a shark then what was it? no one seems to give another suggestion of what it was that in 45 mins you wonn't be able to tell...45 mins would allow someone a very good chance to get a very good look...this ...circling behaviour is very typical of sharks...also the guy stoped and flagged down a tourist ship...agreed to an interview on the local newspaper...filed a police report and furthermore there were other eyewitnesses and physical evidence (damage to the sails) what more do you want...i challenge Mr sharkman in saying that sharks loose interest very quickly...they have been known to follow life rafts for months...never giving up on sensing that someone is in a vulnerable situatuion... furthermore a possible reason as to why the sails suffered limited damage could be due to the design of the sharks jaw which would make it very difficult for it to bite a flat surface as even though its jaw extends when it bites this is not enough to grip...

Teresa Pace

Aug 10th 2010, 19:44

You were indeed lucky. It must have been a terrifying experience. Fancy a shark for a pet? Too close for comfort. I don't blame you if you never go back to windsurfing. Thank your lucky stars but above all thank God that you are still here in one piece!

Fiona Vella

Aug 10th 2010, 18:41

Obviously I cannot say whether Mr Bonavia is telling the truth or not. But each year during the summer season, we hear such stories which eventually (and thankfully) turn out to be fake.

I regard such bad humour as acts of cruelty since once such stories are out, people get terrified of swimming and the lovely summer season turns sour for them.

I do hope that should the respective authorities confirm that such individuals have been making up a story to cause public alarm or to attract attention, relevant actions are taken against them.

louise barbara

Aug 10th 2010, 18:39

shame on all of you , whom are making this story as if it was made up or not true. david bonavia has nothing to do with tourism , he is just a normal guy , that has the sea for passion. he didn't ask for the media , but seeing that the media called for an interview , he felt that he had to say something about his shocking experience , for the people's lives , as to be careful not to not to go swimming, and instead of appreciation he is getting negativity from some people . well it was a sincere warning from a personal experience , but in a way sometimes its better to shut up ,and warn the people whom you know , cause this is what you get back , from being kind hearted enough for the sake of other people . thanks to all that supported

Charles Grima

Aug 10th 2010, 18:09

I do not know David Bonavia, but really, I don't see why people should doubt him and subject his experience to ridicule.

My brother is in the AFM rescue, and the stories he tells me of illegal immigrants brought up (by him personally) from the depths especially near Filfla, largely bitten through, is nothing short of hair-raising. Half-moon bites across from arm-pit to thighs are common...

And having seen proof myself, I am not only inclined to believe, but cannot imagine why people should doubt David Bonavia.

With our fish farms, I cannot think of a reason why we do not have more sightings... free food for what is basically an eating machine.

People find it easy to mock...and I don't really care...I know it's the truth.

j micallef

Aug 10th 2010, 18:02

Considering that we have a large fish farm smack in the mouth of St.Paul's Bay and very, very close to the shore, people should be warned that the odds of having predators around is not insignificant. Families - locals and tourists - throng the shores and beaches of St.Paul's Bay and Qawra - oblivious of the ominous dangers lurking beneath them or close to them because of the close proximity of the fish farm.

Whatever happened to the solemn promise by Government (I still remember ex-Minister Refalo saying it during his term of office) that fish farms were all to be re-located at least 6 kilometers out at sea, and somewhere off Delimara !

Steve Sant

Aug 10th 2010, 17:46

I believe it, because about 25 years ago, sailing with a mirror 10 in the same place, me and my friend Peter Paul saw this huge shadow under the boat. We both got a shock and sat in the middle of the mirror 10 for almost ten minutes. It was much larger than the sailing boat I remember and it was quite a shock to both of us. A few years later, me and my brother saw a large fish, same place, come up and roll over, it had no fin but it was huge. We were in a 21 foot boat this time and it rocked us about with its rolling. I can assure you, large fish do come in and out of this port.

M.Avellino

Aug 10th 2010, 17:20

Where is the theme from jaws?

Elton Grech

Aug 10th 2010, 16:39

Shark Attack ?

For one I've been more intrigued by the number of Shark Experts thanks to the Discovery Channel than by the attack in itself.

S MICALLEF

Aug 10th 2010, 16:19

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE INTEGRITY OF MR BONAVIA, I CANT FOR THE LIFE OF ME IMAGINE HOW AFTER HAVING A SHARK SWIMMING AROUND YOU FOR 45 MINUTES AND EVEN GETTING SO CLOSE THAT HE HAD TO FEND IT AWAY WITH HIS HOOK, HE STILL CANT BE SURE IF THE FISH WAS A SHARK OR NOT. MAYBE WE SHOULDNT EXPECT HIM TO TELL US WHAT SPECIES OF SHARK IT WAS , HOWEVER HE SHOULD BE CERTAIN THAT IT WAS A SHARK. I HOPE THAT THIS HAS'NT GOT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE FAKE STORIES WE HAD LAST YEAR ABOUT A "GREAT WHITE " WHICH WAS PULLED ONTO THE SHORE AT ST GEORGES BEACH.
iS IT POSSIBLE THAT SOMEONE IS TRYING TO HARM THE TOURISM INDUSTRY? I WONDER.

Bernard Galea

Aug 10th 2010, 16:15

This is potentially one of the ludicrous stories I have ever heard in my life...

1. A shark circling for 45 minutes is highly unlikely. It is highly unlikely that a shark would express such continued curiousity in Mr. Bonavia... was he bleeding or injured?

2. As someone who windsurfs regularly... The idea of hitting the shark with the 'metal' part of the harness is senseless. The idea of Mr. Bonavia 'valiantly' repelling the shark with this bit of metal (which is just over half a metre long) while heroic.. is daft.

3. The hole in the sail as shown in the picture, is symptomatic of a sail being torn as the windsurfer falls through it, an all too common occurrence in windsurfing.

4. Mr. Bonavia, if you have been windsurfing for 16 years... then why the choice of Fort St. Elmo? Hardly a known hotspot for windsurfing in the islands, especially given the wind direction on Saturday.

5. Mr. Bonavia, if you have been windsurfing for 16 years, uphauling the sail would be unnecessary.. certainly you would been able to waterstart quickly (a basic windsurfing skill)... where strong wnids are not a hindrance... but a help.

D.Bonello

Aug 10th 2010, 12:55

I know the guy personally for a long time. He's not the type who make up stories. If he said he encountered a shark i suggest people to be aware. Who watch discovery channel knows that Malta makes part of a triangle where the great white shark often is found. Besides if you ask fishermen, they will tell you that its not the first time a shark was caught. I for one, will be cautious when i go swimming.

N. Attard

Aug 10th 2010, 12:31

I cannot understand all this fuss. The shark was seen in the sea, and not walking on the pavement or shopping in sliema. These creatures belong to the sea and there is where they are expected to be.
Sharks are the ones in danger from us and not vice versa. Their numbers have been dwindling a lot especially thanks to the nonsense shark fin soup delicacy in Asian countries. Shark attacks are very rare and it is only in films that these animals are relentless killers.

L Vella

Aug 10th 2010, 12:22

kullhadd gharef sakemm jigu hu wicc ma wicc ma xi Great White - the Med is the breathing place for sharks - the tuna of last month (which was washed up ashore) is not part of the norm to find it lying on the Sliema shores! i dont think it was sunbathing!
we do have sharks - depends on how many fish farms we are going to do...the more over fishing we have the more sharks will lurk in our waters!!!!!

R. Azzopardi

Aug 10th 2010, 11:43

Stop kicking up a fuss. The sea belongs to sea creatures, not to humans. They have every right to be there. I would be just as petrified as this gentleman if I were to see one but one sighting is not going to stop me from practicing my favourite pastime - scuba diving. I've got dives planned almost every day this week and I'm not going to cancel them.

J Brincat

Aug 10th 2010, 11:40

With all the tuna farming in our midst, it is a wonder that such sighting are not more frequent - unless they are and we are not told!

Francesca Vincenti

Aug 10th 2010, 10:41

It is possible that David Bonavia encountered a shark - and yes it could also have been a curious Tuna. Both are common in our waters at this time of the year as the great white notoriously follows the tuna migration routes. Surfboards draw curiosity since they resemble turtles to a shark, a natural food source for them. It would be a mistake to doubt that sharks do not frequent (although sadly not too regularly) our waters. Being a windsurfer myself, I have sailed around our shores in all seasons since 1981. I have encountered a total of 6 sharks to date. The largest one however, was not spotted locally but between Malta/Sicily in the 80's during a race. It trailed me closely in light winds & calm clear water for a number of minutes before sinking into the deep again. Please remember that sharks play a vital role in keeping the delicate balance of the seas in check & such sightings give hope that the seas are still alive & kicking. They are not to be feared but protected. So before poking fun at someone's experience or going on a mission to destroy sharks - THINK

A.Galea

Aug 10th 2010, 10:28

Be Careful...Better safe than sorry!!!!

Jon Abela

Aug 10th 2010, 09:54

History repeats itself. Synonymous to this event was the fatal Great White shark attack upon Jack Smedly in St. Thomas Bay. The continous practice of breeding large fish close to our shores will result in attracting larger and dangerous species such as sharks towards our shores. This issue has been repeatedly been proven within the Meditterranean throughout the years. A lucky escape for Mr. Bonavia. Let's not get into detail of the real name of the GWS. The facts are simple: Tuna Farms= GWS or Mako's. Now it's up to the authorithies to anaylse such situations and evaluate the consequences and probabilities of repetitive episodes like these. Sharks have always been present in the Med and we cannot stop them from living and breeding around our waters.

G.J Buttigieg

Aug 10th 2010, 09:39

Dear All,

I am abit cynical. Could this be a stunt which might have to do with giving free exposure of the energy drink on the gentleman's t shirt recently introduced to Malta. One might ask?

J.Borg

Aug 10th 2010, 09:36

Mr Bonavia,

I believe you that you have been bumped in by a shark, which from your account was acting more out of curiosity and more interested in the board and sail, still you were in danger of receiving a bite to check what was the strange object of interest.

But if you had doubt what BIG fish was; so how come you had chance to see the attacker face to face 'biting' your sail and you had your chance to defend with your belt? Sorry the last part is very romanticised ...

sharon gauci

Aug 10th 2010, 09:27

Oh please, now that we saw a "fish"its suddenly a shark. Actually no even better its a white shark. How sure are we that this was a shark or not some other big fish.I remember years ago when they thought the same and suddenly the fin belonged to another type of fish. I am sure that in the Maltese waters there are sharks around however thanks to our lovely fishing nets they are caught, slaughtered and most probably end up on our dish being sold as another sort. I am looking forward to see if we suddenly start hunting all the sharks in our water cos they are dangerous... wouldnt be surprised.

P. Azzopardi

Aug 10th 2010, 08:27

I don't know what's swimming out there, but maybe the shark was actually here for a reason. Keep in mind that a month ago a dead tuna was washed ashore at Ghar id-Dud Sliema, which isn't very far from where the windsurfer encountered the shark.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100716/local/somethings-fishy

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100715/local/dead-fish-causes-sliema-inconvenience

L Vella

Aug 10th 2010, 08:18

greenpeace and sea shepherd were right few months ago! leave the tuna in the sea - free - the more tuna farms and fish farms we are having the more sharks we are attracting. The Med is the breathing place of great whites and believe me the bite in the sail aint no bite of a tuna or dolphin! its summer and the authorities dont want to scare the people from swimming. just be careful not to attract them! Thank God nothing happened to Mr. Bonavia and hope you recover well from your shock :) I dont blame you...its an experience you will never forget!

Susan Farrugia

Aug 10th 2010, 08:16

Maltese idea of fish, big fish = Great White SHARKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!! lol he wasn’t hungry took him 45min without eating him or he wanted to play hux.

C.L.Attard

Aug 10th 2010, 04:54

This report raises such a rumpus, yet isnt it ironic that we Maltese give the Great White the most humble, no-frills name possible - Huta Bajda? :-)

I dont see the need to make any fuss or panic. Given the vast amount of water sport and activities that go on in our waters every day, such an incident is so rare as to be deserve to be called a freak incident. As scary as it was for Mr Bonavia, we all know we're an island surrounded by sea, which is the home of all kinds of fish, including sharks. They have more right to be there than we do. Im sure windsurfers take this as part of the deal, as do their counterparts in other countries.

Then of course if we choose to breed their food within our immediate waters, slaughter tuna with the blood that creates, etc, can we really be so surprised if the odd shark happens to stroll in for a sniff? If anything let's consider ourselves lucky such incidents are and stay that way.

P Sciberras

Aug 10th 2010, 01:59

Some years ago we saw a documentary on Great Whites. Interestingly enough, it was said that the largest Great White ever caught was in Malta. Here is some info taken from
http://dsc.discovery.com/sharks/largest-great-white-shark.html ;

Turning the page away from fishing lore to the scientific literature still reveals discrepancy and confusion about great white size. Over the past two decades, most researchers accepted that the largest great white was a 23-foot individual caught in 1987 off the coast of Malta by Alfredo Cutajar. More recent studies on information concerning the specimen suggest its length had been exaggerated. One possible problem is that sharks, like all fish, are composed mostly of water. As a result, they can dry out and shrink over time. This happened in 2008 to a colossal squid housed at the Te Papa museum in New Zealand. There is no question the squid shrunk after months of storage upon capture, but now the measurements only reflect its size upon validated scientific examination.

Stephen Baldacchino

Aug 10th 2010, 00:05

last year in July we were 16 miles of ghar dalam me and my friend with two boats fishing and a shark fin surfaced between us but after a couple of seconds it went down under the boat and never saw it again. In front of us tuna was jumping so I think it was more interested in the tuna than to a fiber glass boat. we calculated it was a 15-16 ft shark but don't know what kind it was. the fine was some 2ft high. It was a bit scary but me on a boat, it was interesting, not like this man which was face to face in the water with him. I think he was more than lucky that it attacked the sail not the board.

M Warrington

Aug 9th 2010, 23:31

Imma anke fuq huta irridu naqbdu polemika!!!! Mr. Bonavia thank God you were unhurt! Swimmers, windsurfers watch out!!

John Bezzina

Aug 9th 2010, 22:49

5 things strike me as odd...

a) How come it took Mr. Bonavia 45 min to encounter a boat, in what is a relatively busy location with all the comings and goings to the harbour. Not to mention the fact that this point might also be visible from numerous points on land.

b) How come Mr. Bonavia was unable to identify the type of fish that he encountered. I am sure that after 45 min I would have at least a minimal idea of the looks of this creature and try to identify it from the Internet.

c) It struck me as odd that a shark would spend 45 min going around and around Mr. Bonavia and doing nothing else... is this normal behaviour?

d) 1 minuscule hole in the windsurfer does not strike me as being produced by a tooth, I am no shark expert but I am sure that a 3 meter shark would produce much more damage had he bitten the sale.

e) How come a boat full of tourists and no one took a photo of this creature?

Enlightenment please!!

Xmun Abela

Aug 9th 2010, 22:48

Tuna attracts Preadators....The larger the prey.......The larger hunter.... What do you expect ? - I've got no problems with regulations as regards fisheries and but it is a fact....

M Micallef

Aug 9th 2010, 22:16

In the 80s and early 90s I worked on the sea - almost constantly. I saw Sharks around Malta and numerous ones.

It is rare to see them so near the coast - but not impossible;

I have seen sharks coming close to the boat I was on - and showing behaviour very similar to the one described by the surfer.

They seem not sure about our presence - and if they are hungry they may probe and stay around to see whether they can get an easy meal. I think the shadow of a windsurfer will definately attract an inquisitive shark. Also they try to assess what type of material they are dealing with - if they sense metal, plastics etc they may loose interest and go away.

Very difficult to say whether this is a great white or not - but I have doubts - if this was a gerat white, he would not still be alive.

john d. farrugia

Aug 9th 2010, 21:39

Sharks in local waters are more frequent that most of you think. Among a number of sightings I've witnessed a "two foot plus" dorsal fin circling around a dead cow (probably thrown overboard) about 5 miles off Ta' Cenc. Proportionally the fish was definitely more than 12ft. And I can tell the difference between a dolphin and a shark :)

Paul Busuttil

Aug 9th 2010, 21:32

I used to work at the fish farm at St Paul's Islands. Here we used to farm Sea Bass and Sea Bream. Naturally curious predators used to hang around the nets, Large tunny and amberjack, hoping for a stray free meal....Now however we have larger fish in captivity....Tuna themselves. Who in turn are predated upon by sharks....one species being the Great White itself. So it would only be natural to sight a great white around the Maltese waters.......I am not surprised at all with this encounter I just hope to God no one gets hurt.

Wilfred Camilleri

Aug 9th 2010, 20:51

I know sharks have a very bad reputation and unfortunately it is true they can harm humans or even cause fatal attacks, but please do keep in mind this animal is in it's natural habitat and we (humans) can be listed as fair game when we are in the water. It's an animal to be treated with respect and not destroyed - it's very much needed in the sea's Eco system - so I really hope no jaws panic happens and gets the Maltese in shark exterminators - it would be a disaster to our sea.

Joseph Camilleri

Aug 9th 2010, 20:24

wow.. nobody blamed GonziPN ... or the par idejn sodi ... yet!

Karl Consiglio

Aug 9th 2010, 20:20

The Med ain't no giant swimming pool.

Christopher Debattista

Aug 9th 2010, 19:56

Malta is in fact a breeding ground for many sharks including Great whites. They also breed in the sea basins of France . They come near since the sea currents don't propagate and the sea is warmer than the Atlantic ocean

paul zerafa

Aug 9th 2010, 19:47

MY FRIEND AND ALL ,A SHARK OF THE KIND (GREAT WHITE IS IN MALTESE CALLED,"PIXXIPLAMTU") AND STOP CALLING IT"" KELP IL -BAHAR " WHEN THE SAID FISH SURFACE IT IS GENERALLY IDENTIFIED AS THE BACK FIN AND THE TAIL FIN SURFACE TOGETHER THUS YOU SEE TWO FINS ONE AFTER THE OTHER APPART ,ACCORDING THE SIZE OF THE FISH. WAS YOUR SURF BOARD INSPECTED TO DECIDE IF THE BITE IS THAT OF A PIXXIPLAMTU??

Alfred Grech

Aug 9th 2010, 19:34

I can imagine how this man is feeling. I was attacked by a 24ft Great White Shark sometime around 1995 when it tried to bite my 13 foot boat while fishing for Lampuki about two to three miles north out of St. Pauls Island. On that day after the DOI where informed the AFM confirmed that it was a Great White. Great Whites will sensor the blood scent of the fish being slaughtered and blood drained out; from miles and miles away sharks comes close. However, the shark would not find anything to attack and would become ferocious; attacking anything which comes into its way.

C Cassar

Aug 9th 2010, 19:03

looks like someone here wants to make a story. This area is frequented by dolphins. in the flesh these can seem quite large and are very often mistaken for sharks due to their dorsal fins breaking the surface. Much fuss about nothing.

M. Saliba

Aug 9th 2010, 18:57

Iva anki fuq shark ma naqblux Malta. Nahseb l-ahjar jixghel xemgha ta ratal w jghid gietni tajjeb. GHamel sew avzana. RApport l-ghassa? ma nafx ghalxiex.

Robert Camenzuli

Aug 9th 2010, 18:56

Perfect timing for the Gozo - Malta swim that will be held on the 21st of this month! I hope I will forget what I just read in 2 weeks!

Stefan Debattista

Aug 9th 2010, 18:53

I'm not surprised that the sharks are telling their other shark friends to hang around Malta with all those tuna farms we have so close to shore spewing all that food and attracting other tuna friends. If I were shark I'd hang around Malta for sure. Stefan - Maltese Sailor/Windsurfer

J. Borg

Aug 9th 2010, 18:06

The FISH FARMS littering our shores and bays are attracting sharks as well. Not only are they ruining our tourism by polluting the sea - now we may also have a fatality... However it seems the authorities are turning a blind eye when fish farms operators are concerned. Shrouded party financing may explain such illogical stance!

Claire Busuttil

Aug 9th 2010, 16:04

In Malta we think that we are different from other countries.....no shark attacks, no natural disasters, well actually in our area, there should be sharks and even whales. The thing is that this huge fish that attacked this guy, could have been also a dolphin, they could be dangerous as well.

victor pulis

Aug 9th 2010, 15:59

The surfboard was examined by the police and returned to its owner.
Are the police competent in identifying the shark from any bite marks if any?
And why was this incident kept under wraps considering the risk?
Finally, I agree with Wendy. It's their world, the only one they've got and any one venturing into the sea is taking a calculated risk.

Denis A. Darmanin

Aug 9th 2010, 15:54

Sightings of a large dorsal fin and even large ripples in the sea have been noted all throughout last week off Valletta's Marsamxett rocky foreshores, mainly near il-Cable and near the Fossa areas. On a particular day when currents were inwards, heads of large fish were noted floating near the former Waterpolo pitch.
The referred attack on the windsurfer had occured a number of days ago. So was it hushed not to scare people from swimming? Such sightings should be taken seriously and announced to save lives and accidents should the alarm be real. Better a false alarm than anything worse!

Peter Shaw

Aug 9th 2010, 15:26

It seems the young man escaped from the jaws of death! (pun intended)

wendy mamo

Aug 9th 2010, 15:06

well, its an ocean-thats where sharks live-thats their territory! i dont see what the big fuss is about, i mean we all know that there are plenty of sharks in the med. simple solution-if u dont wanna get attacked keep away from deep seas.... it's their territory and we are the ones invading it after all !!!

dvella

Aug 9th 2010, 13:45

"said he saw a shark that was about three metres long circling him."
I think a Marine science expert should be given the task to carry on such investigations concerning the case and wonder if we have any on the police force capable to do so!! So the final outcome?
Just a simple police report!!

victor rodenas

Aug 9th 2010, 13:13

The top triangular part of a sail looks like the fin of a big fish,it could be that the shark taught it was an injured dolphin or tuna fluttering in the rough sea and attacked.Nobody said that there are no sharks in the Med.Sea ,remember that one of the biggest White Sharks was caught off Wied iz- Zurrieq some time ago.Humans are not the proper food for sharks...too boney...but when an annimal grows old and its usual prey eludes it ,then it will eat anything to survive.

L. Calleja

Aug 9th 2010, 12:48

The surfer was close to Valletta and Marsamxett beach. Swimmers in this area need to keep an eye and be cautious. It is usual to spot a shark in our waters but not a shark attacking a person.

Clive Xuereb

Aug 9th 2010, 12:34

I am in a position to confirm a sighting for this fish. I am a kitesurfer who was kiting off exiles Sliema on Saturday afternoon, at a point i spotted a fin 3m away from me, this fish surfaced slowly and went back down on its side.