Could unwelcome guests arrive on our shores?
Climate change on Earth affects the temperature of sea water around the world, which apparently causes changes in the trajectory of marine creatures in different regions, as they search for the temperature they need to live.
Worrisome
Researchers express concern about the phenomenon, due to the damage that may be caused to the various species, whether it is due to distress in finding suitable living areas and food, or due to the danger of hunting that will lie in wait for them if they approach populated areas. On the other hand, this encounter may also pose a danger to humans due to possible harm from dangerous creatures. Tiger sharks have recently been reported approaching a popular beach area in the US.
Could they also reach us?
In light of the reports of the expansion of the phenomenon of animal migration from place to place around the world, the question arises: Is it possible that various marine animals will move from distant places, such as Australia, the Philippines, and the Yucatan Peninsula in the Sea of Cortez, towards the Mediterranean Sea, through the Straits of Gibraltar, and eventually appear On the shores of Israel?
shellfish and sharks
This is a wide range of sea creatures, from molluscs to sharks. So does it make sense that shark species that are not their natural home in the Mediterranean will ever be stolen into our regions? Of course, the reference is not to thresher sharks and their fin sharks, these are known to be found in large numbers on Hadera's beaches - a unique phenomenon in Israel.
It already happened
Well, in the past there have already been invasions of marine animals that moved from distant areas in our direction, until they reached the shores of Israel. Fifteen individuals of the gray shark reached the Mediterranean Sea and washed up on the shores of Israel, in Hadera and Acre.
spider dragon
About 40 years ago, a poisonous fish appeared on the shores of Israel that came from the Black Sea, it was nicknamed the "spider dragon" and its damage was bad. Octopuses of different species also appeared on our shores, such as the eye octopus, which came from the Red Sea to Israel and got stuck in the Shekmona area and on the reef in front of Meridian Beach in Haifa.
It always starts small
We also saw in Israel the Hayama-Sufi sapphire bat, although these are only two individuals, but you should know that this is how it always starts: an invasive species that appears in small numbers that grow over time, this is of course on the condition that the creature adapts to the place.
when he opens his mouth
While acclimatizing, the invaders cause damage to the native species in the Mediterranean. If we take for example the haharon fish, an invader that we have mentioned many times in previous articles, this fish is known for its insatiable appetite. With a single opening of its mouth, the haharon is able to swallow a huge amount of stingrays that have hatched from the egg, and to be honest, a respectable amount of larger fish as well.
Why not?
The answer is not yes or no, because actually, why not? If there are white sharks in the Adriatic Sea, why don't they reach the Mediterranean Sea and thus our region?
There is no such thing. There is no such thing
In nature nothing is impossible. There is a story that happened during the British mandate, when a white bull appeared in the Tel Aviv area and hit a British symbol. Just recently we reported on giant squids arriving on Israel's shores, and there has already been talk of a suspicion, but this is still only a hypothesis, that the "Humboldt" squid also reached us, a notorious creature in Mexico that was hunted by Mexican fishermen as a food delivery to Japan.
will be ejected to the shore
It is true that these creatures live in the depths, but it is not impossible that, as a result of the climate changes taking place on Earth, as mentioned, they will also reach here, in the deep sea, and then they may be ejected onto the shores for various reasons, just as other floating cuttlefish were ejected on our shores, and this year, as I recall, even in quantity greater than in previous years.
A dangerous and unnecessary attraction
In the photo of the sharks in front of you, donated by Eli Rosenblit and taken in the Bahamas, divers are seen feeding the tiger sharks, as part of the "attractions" of the area - a dangerous and clearly unnecessary thing. The wild animals take care of themselves and have no need for our help in order to eat, if at all, the opposite That's right, this could only hurt them. Besides, it's just a dangerous operation! No one can guarantee you that the shark, being a prey animal, won't "miss".
And if you asked yourself why the sharks' eyes look partially closed in the picture, it is a kind of membrane that covers their eyes while eating, the purpose of which is to protect the eye from the penetration of pieces of food, which could damage the pupil.
Wow, thanks for an enlightening article and spectacular photos.
Hello Shay
You said the truth.
Many animals come from other parts of the world.
It is very difficult to see all of them, some of them lay eggs in certain places, such as large hovering squids.
Not every invader is harmful. So it will be quite interesting in the coming years.
have a nice weekend.
Hi Muti
First, a super interesting article.
I will share my comment with your permission and the permission of the readers.
First, I remember sharks in Hadera and Haifa near the power plants 20 years ago, as well as in the north of the country, already but not in the amount that you see today in Hadera.
There is indeed a migration of species from place to place and this has been happening all over the world for years, but it is possible that due to climate change species are seen that were not seen before in certain places.
Some divers testify that in recent years they see more sharks in the water than in the past. Whether it's because of a ban on fishing because of migration/immigration or climate change, I don't know.
There was a program on one of the science channels that dealt with the increase in shark attacks in Hawaii, for example. The researchers found that the thing that caused this was an increase in fishing from kayaks? A sport that gained momentum in Israel as well.
I was surprised to hear about the discharge of sharks that swim. It was only a few years ago that this variety was discovered.
Regarding white sharks in the Adriatic Sea that you mentioned, if they are really there there is no stopping them from making a foray here, once researchers discovered that they migrate thousands of kilometers.
As for Humboldt's fins found in the Gulf of Mexico, they are truly ferocious. Fishermen who go out to fish for them are afraid of them and are afraid of falling into the water since they literally devour what they find along the way, including their own kind.
Many thanks to the Hai Pe system and to Moti Mendelson, who has a lot of knowledge and experience, for this article, and for other articles that enrich and teach a lot about the changing conditions at sea.
Yes, they will multiply!!!
Write "to ambush" and not "to ambush"... write in correct Hebrew!
Enough with the scaremongering,
A shark is a blessed animal and really not scary, the media and articles of this kind are the intimidation,
I suggest you change titles for the future and present the article in a more positive light.
Moti, I really like your articles and look forward to another interesting article every time.
Thanks
Maybe instead of suggesting what and how to write, write articles yourself?
I promise to read what you write.
Amazing except, that…