(live here) – Feeding sharks in seawater is becoming a real danger to swimmers on the country's beaches, especially in light of the recent case in which there were serious consequences following interactions between humans and sharks. The sharks' habituation to human presence, following uncontrolled feeding, may lead to dangerous behavior and a real risk to bathers on nearby beaches.
Shark feeding was filmed at the Hadera River estuary, on May 7, 2025, just two weeks after the fatal incident in which a swimmer was devoured.
The dangers of feeding sharks
Feeding sharks by humans causes sharks to become accustomed to the presence and recognition of humans as a food resource. As sharks are more exposed to humans feeding them, they may think that every person in the water is a food source. This is a behavioral change that can lead to cases of unintentional bites, especially when they recognize the smells or movements that characterize people in the water. In the case of Hadera, the woman who fed the sharks caused the sharks to become accustomed to the presence of people in the water, which apparently could lead to another attack, not only in the Hadera stream, but also on other beaches.
The danger in light of past incidents
The horrific incident that occurred at the mouth of the Hadera Stream, on 21/4/25, just two weeks before these photos were taken, illustrates the growing risk in waters where there is uncontrolled interaction with powerful predators such as sharks.
According to the information we have, the swimmer that was eaten in Hadera was not in a state of provocation or feeding, but was simply in the water. The point here is that sharks can get confused and think that every person in the water is part of the feeding environment they are used to.
What really happens when you feed a shark?
Sharks use a special eyelid to protect their eyes when biting. When they bite, they are “blind” for a split second. In the heat of the moment, a shark may not be able to tell the difference between a fish and a hand, causing serious injuries.
As in the recent case: just two days before the deadly attack, people were observed in the shallow waters of Hadera, some even feeding sharks fish they found on the shore of the Hadera River estuary. The sharks, recognizing the source of the food, approached to a depth of only 40 cm – and moved dangerously restlessly between the human legs.
When the water is murky, the shark does not see well from a diver, but it feels its prey well, using sensory organs called "Lorenzinians", which allow sharks to orient themselves to prey moving in the water. There are known cases in which sharks "taste" prey, when they are not sure whether it is edible. The problem is that such a taste can cut off an arm or a leg, or a stomach.
The impact on other beaches
Other beaches in the area, such as Olga, Beit Yanai and Sdot Yam, may encounter similar dangers. Sharks are not limited to certain coastal areas and can reach other beaches according to their food needs. They move freely in the water, and when one person feeds them, this may attract them to different beaches, where they recognize a person in the water and may mistakenly associate their presence with food. This is especially dangerous during the hot season when more people are in the water and endangering themselves, without knowing that they are exposed to danger.
The legal consequences
Feeding wild animals, especially protected animals such as sharks, is prohibited in Israel under the Wildlife Protection Law. It is a criminal offense that can lead to fines and other penalties. The offense is not only harmful to the animals themselves, but also endangers human life. According to the law, feeding sharks or any other predatory animal creates unnecessary risk and disrupts the marine ecological balance.
In conclusion – respect for nature, that's the whole story.
The sea is the sharks' home, not ours. The responsibility for human behavior rests solely with us. Nature is not a water park – and it is unforgiving when we act irresponsibly.
Humans should keep their distance from sharks. Do not feed them, do not pet them, and do not swim near them.
You can stand and watch them from the shore and enjoy the beauty of nature.
Take care of yourself. Take care of nature.
RTAG response – Israel Nature and Parks Authority:
The shark is in danger of extinction and is a protected natural value. In addition, its behavior and reaction cannot be predicted. It is forbidden to harm it, harass it, feed it, etc., and anyone who does so is breaking the law and risks criminal punishment.
Inappropriate human behavior towards wild animals is, unfortunately, known from many places in Israel and around the world, despite warnings and information and enforcement processes on the subject. It is not possible to put a guard next to every wild animal.
It is difficult to know from the photo what exactly happened on the ground, and it is certainly not possible to prove a crime from the photo.
Dear Moti! A wonderful article that enriches us readers with such important and critical information! It is very interesting to learn about the sensory cells of sharks and the fact that they close their eyes while eating amazed me. An article that everyone should read in order to know what to be careful of and how to behave, well done!
Wow, Moti! What a fascinating and important article!! I wish they had listened to you before the terrible incident that happened and he would have been spared! And even now! I can't believe that people are still feeding sharks and endangering you and all of us when we swim on other beaches! When will people wake up to respect nature and human life??
In addition, it was very interesting to read that your explanation includes photographs of the shark's eyes closing while it eats food.
In any case, your article is fascinating!! You have made it of paramount importance for preserving our lives as bathers and for nature and sharks!!
Thank you very much. You are a champion.
Hello Or, thank you very much.
It is important to know what is happening on our shores.
And we need to recalculate our course before declaring a certain species endangered.
good week
Not a big expert
But I've been freediving for over 20 years.
And I'm encountering sharks more and more.
Which means they're probably not endangered... I also think this animal should be protected... but away from the coastline.
Hello Yaniv. You are very right.
"The finger is very light on the trigger" on the subject of species preparing for extinction.
It is worth rethinking this route.
If today you see six or seven bettas on every dive, then they are definitely not in danger of extinction….
Thank you
Hello Yaniv and thank you.
The issue of extinction... is a joke in Israel in many cases.
If in one personal dive you want six betas and I have reports from all over the country... then what is this announcement based on?
They will sit on a sharp path.
I blame – and there are those who are to blame for the disaster that occurred and future disasters! But before that and first of all, kudos to the website and writer Moti Mendelsohn, for a professional, in-depth and immensely important article. After delving into relevant professional materials, you did a good job of describing and presenting all the aspects that are very relevant to the subject.
At the same time, and in response to the response of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INP), which in my opinion is a response that is both eye-watering and naive, I will express my opinion without any hesitation or indifference: the responsibility for the disaster that occurred falls on the INP! If the INP had not focused on how to rob nature from the public in order to profit from it and trade it for the purposes of strengthening and enriching themselves – but had focused on their true and important areas of responsibility, it is possible that the disaster that occurred could have been avoided, as well as future disasters that are imminent – because recently there have been reports from all over the country from divers about aggressive behavior of sharks that are getting closer and closer to divers. When the next disaster comes – then please, INP people, do not say "we did not know" and give responses that are so naive as to be pathetic.
Until the disaster that occurred – RTG presented themselves as all-knowing and all-understanding marine life. When they want, they know how to prohibit everything, even to the point of prohibiting the setting up of tents and spending the night on the beaches and places that they have appropriated for themselves as "nature reserves" (in the name of supposedly preserving nature) – while allocating places for overnight stays such as "parking lots" and of course for a fee (because, in their opinion, enriching their coffers negates any harm to nature). They are even working to declare edible fish a protected species.
In light of RTG's lukewarm, not to mention pathetic, response, a simple question: Who in the country is responsible for invasive species, protected species, endangered species, wildlife, etc.?!!! The answer: RTG and only RTG! RTG claims to be the experts and knowledgeable experts in these fields, has marine biologists who claim to be "experts," and in everything related to animals - they publicize themselves with cheers and "clever explanations" that appear in every media outlet.
After all, when there was a wild boar problem in Haifa, they arrived quickly and were willing to provide "assistance or advice" in exchange for a payment of many tens of thousands of shekels from the municipality's coffers, which are the residents' coffers.
In a place where feeding sharks is the biggest problem that can encourage attacks on humans (according to the opinions expressed), why didn't RTG initiate a ban on feeding sharks?! Why didn't they act by contacting the Hadera Municipality and/or the Minister to prepare the environment for issuing orders prohibiting feeding sharks while exercising supervision on the subject?!! Did they wait for a person to be devoured by sharks to impose far-reaching bans?!! And I wonder, does RTG intend to leverage the disaster that occurred to turn another beach into a "reserve" and thus appropriate more sea and coastal areas for themselves - and trade them for a fee in order to continue enriching their coffers?!
And why, given the increasing numbers of sharks near our shores, are there no monitoring, research, or consideration of the possibility of keeping sharks away from our shores, or at least from those who swim near the shore?!
Either way: the RTA is responsible for the sharks, the RTA claims to be experts in the field, if your experts such as Dr. Ruthi don't understand sharks - hire experts who also understand sharks, if they understand sharks but instead of dealing with preventing risk from sharks, the "experts" deal with opinions about stealing nature from the public or preparing recycled reports for courts in insignificant cases about the supposed "damage" to reserves - this is generally so bad as to be a dereliction of duty.
A man was mauled to death by sharks, and the fear is that, God forbid, more cases will occur – sharks that are accustomed to eating human flesh are expected to continue. When that happens, God forbid and I hope it doesn't, you in the RTG, your managers and senior staff, and your marine biologists – you will be responsible. The issue needs to be addressed in the Knesset committee and soon, until then, RTG people – stop stealing nature from the public for a while and invest the best of your time and resources (which we, the public, are funding) to prevent the next disaster. Rafi
Thank you, Moti, for the fascinating article. You are not a walking encyclopedia.
Also idiotic people who only wake up after a personal disaster.
And also poor and sinful enforcement.
What will happen to our country?
On the list of things in the country where enforcement should be increased, "feeding sharks" is not even in the top 100.
Let's start first with traffic offenses and money laundering and removing the criminals from the government, and then move on to the more serious offenses like throwing a fish into the sea...
Hello, greetings and thank you.
Nothing works right in the country.
Thank you
Hello, greetings.
You are right, nothing is good for the people of Israel... let's hope it improves.
Thanks to Moti Mendelsohn for the article. As always, the article is factual and professional, thank you Moti. The truth is, people have lost their minds. Going down to the sea to swim with sharks and containing them is a serious blow. What are they thinking? It's the same story with wild boars in Haifa. They feed them like they're street cats. Wild animals don't understand a psychotic Israeli mind.
Good morning, Mark.
The problem is that the shark is protected... but they shouldn't be protected close to the shore but far from the shore.
Just like in Australia
Bullies are the disease of the country.
You are also a disease. Do you know the meaning of the word?
The thought that there is no problem is very painful. It is unbelievable.
If you meant poisonous fish, then fine… If you meant the word with the letter ע, then go look for it…
Hello Yehoram
People took selfies with the shark, it's worse because one fell on a leek that luckily escaped.
Who are these abnormal people?
Did you feed sharks?
Has the shark become a pet, or is the madness of likes on social media driving these delusions into their minds?
Hey, father, it's a shame about the guy who was killed in the tragic accident..the movie Jaws indirectly caused the sharks to roar
Pshhhh… Thanks for the interesting information.
Maybe we should re-screen the movie "Jaws."