THE Irish Wildlife Charity has spoken out over what is deems “sensationalised” reporting of a shark bite incident in Co. Waterford this week.
A man was taken to hospital on August 11 after being bitten by a shark while on a group shark-fishing trip.
Five anglers were aboard a small boat roughly four miles off Ram Head in Ardmore when they caught a 1.4m blue shark and brought it on board.
The man was bitten by the shark after he had taken the hook out of its mouth.
Ballycotton RNLI in Cork was called by the Dublin Coast guard at around 4.16pm that day to attend the incident.
The injured man was winched on board the Irish Coast Guard's helicopter, Rescue 117 and taken to Cork University Hospital, where he is being treated for his injuries.
Ballycotton RNLI attended the shark bite incident in WaterfordThe remaining anglers were unharmed and remained on the boat.
In a statement the Irish Wildlife Charity has called out “sensationalised” reporting of the incident by some news outlets.
“The Irish Wildlife Trust are disappointed to see the number of newspaper articles reporting on this accident without giving the details of what happened,” they said in a statement issued this morning.
“Shark bites are a rare and unusual occurrence, but a perfectly natural response from an animal that is in a stressful situation,” they added.
“We are glad that the emergency services reacted quickly and the man is recovering well in hospital.
“Unfortunately, many articles have sensationalised this incident.”
They explained: “The writing has failed to accurately describe what happened and gives the impression that someone was attacked by a shark unprovoked.
“Globally sharks have gained a bad reputation for being 'man eaters' due to the media not accurately reporting on situations and writing for dramatic effect.
“This has resulted in the deliberate culling of sharks across the globe.
“Sharks are a vital part of many marine ecosystems but unfortunately pelagic shark populations around the world have declined by over 70% since 1970.”
The RNLI's Coxswain on duty Eolan Walsh said the incident should be a reminder that "conditions at sea can change quickly".
"This was a well-coordinated multi-agency response, with Ballycotton RNLI, Youghal RNLI and Rescue 117 working together to ensure that the casualty received urgent medical assistance as quickly and safely as possible," he said.
"Our crew were pleased to be able to support the operation and remain on scene while the casualty was transferred for emergency treatment and we wish the casualty a full recovery."
He added: “Incidents such as this are a reminder that conditions at sea can change quickly and that anyone heading offshore should make safety a priority.
"Ensure your vessel is suitable for the conditions, wear a properly fitted lifejacket or personal flotation device, carry a reliable means of communication, and make sure someone ashore knows your plans.
"If you get into difficulty at sea, call for help early — contacting the Coast Guard at 999 or 112 can make all the difference.”
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