Yes, there are more people in the water, and more people are traveling to beach locations. That's certainly a factor.
Sensationalism-induced fear is driving a lot of the "WHOOO LET'S KILL SOME SHARKS!" hunting. A lot more is being driven by idiocies like shark's fin soup and folk medicines. I don't know which is easier to get a handle on; probably the former. The latter problem is trans-jurisdictional and there's no real authority with the power to make it stop.
Humans are terrible.
― Here's the storify, of a lovely ladify (Phil D.), Thursday, 8 August 2013 20:18 (ten years ago) link
Well, you could argue that the bloodsport around sharks probably makes people feel less bad about lopping a fin off. And overall, we're pretty nonchalant about killing the organisms that aren't cute or have no obvious use (hello mosquitos!).
Overall, I agree with you that I should try to be less terrible. Then maybe I can take the moral high ground every now and again.
― the rofflestomper (dandydonweiner), Thursday, 8 August 2013 20:30 (ten years ago) link
Meh, for all you know I'm Ariel Castro.
― Here's the storify, of a lovely ladify (Phil D.), Thursday, 8 August 2013 22:19 (ten years ago) link
As long as there are shark tornados, I will remain fearful of sharks.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 8 August 2013 22:26 (ten years ago) link
400-year-old Greenland shark ‘longest-living vertebrate’
The team found that the sharks grow at just 1cm a year, and reach sexual maturity at about the age of 150
― Aw naw, no' Annoni oan an' aw noo (Tom D.), Friday, 12 August 2016 11:47 (seven years ago) link
I hope they have some decent shark dentists, wouldn't fancy a toothache that lasted for 3 centuries.
― calzino, Friday, 12 August 2016 12:17 (seven years ago) link