Florida
UF wildlife expert explains increase of shark interactions in Florida
CEDAR KEY, Fla. (WCJB) – Many North Central Florida residents have taken to social media to share their shark encounters both on the Gulf Coast and in the Atlantic Ocean.
While there have always been reported shark incidents at Florida, 2024 has seemed to have an increase. In 2023, the state of Florida had 16 confirmed shark attacks. This year, there have been more than 10 cases so far.
Florida is known as a vacation hub with many tourists, and residents alike, participating in water activities from the beach to rivers.
At Cedar Key, University of Florida wildlife expert Mike Allen spoke on the increase in shark encounters during this summer. Allen said beachgoers are not the only ones heading to the coast, “the summertime is when the sharks are in the northern Gulf of Mexico. They migrate south in the winter. So that’s also where they overlap [with swimmers].”
This migration is not just for this summer, each summer there is always a higher likelihood of a shark interaction when more people are in the water.
It is not only the sharks migration along the coast, but the exact environments people are swimming around. At Cedar Key, swimmers may see a shark due to the draw of the estuarine environment to wildlife. Allen commented, “this is a very productive estuary that has a lot of food resources for sharks,” so it is common to see them while beachgoers flood the beach.
Allen spoke beyond the change in beachgoers habits, to speak on how local legislation and climate change are impacting shark interaction dynamics.
He credits conservation efforts in helping increase shark abundance, saying “both recreational, commercial restrictions on harvest, the reduction in shark finning practices, those kinds of things have all contributed to increases in shark populations.”
Along with human impact through legislation, climate change is also said to play a role. Allen explained how climate exchange impacts species distribution, which changes how often humans are interacting with these animals. He said, “we’re seeing lots of more tropical fish species that are moving north in the Gulf of Mexico in response to climate change, and sharks are no exception.”
While beachgoers across North Central Florida may be concerned with an increase of shark interactions over the social media pages,
However, Allen tells everyone of shark’s importance in the state’s ecosystem, as they help keep the oceanic food web balanced and healthy.
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FORT MYERS, Fla. – An injured manatee and her calf are recovering after authorities on a boat rescued them from the Orange River near Fort Myers on Thursday.
What we know:
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said its Marine Unit, Advanced Technology Support Unit, drone pilots and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission helped in saving the pair after the mother was found hurt in the water and in need of medical attention.
READ: Missing Florida man found stuck in mud without food or water for days: PFD
Video shows authorities pulling the frantic manatees safely onto the boat in netting before taking them to shore.
Courtesy: Lee County Sheriff’s Office
Both animals will be taken to ZooTampa for evaluation and medical care.
What we don’t know:
LCSO did not say the extent of the mother’s injuries.
By the numbers:
As of Feb. 20, there have been 85 manatee deaths across Florida in 2026, according to the FWC. Last year reportedly saw a total of 632 manatee deaths.
Dig deeper:
Earlier this month, the FWC began investigating a spike in manatee deaths, specifically in Lee County, where officials say 25 were found dead within a week.
READ: FWC investigating spike in manatee deaths over the past week
The FWC believes these manatee deaths could be from several factors: cold stress, a lack of seagrass and polluted waterways.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Trump threatens tariffs on countries that supply oil to Cuba
Trump warned Cuba to reach an agreement with the U.S. after signing an executive order to impose tariffs on countries that supply the island with oil.
HAVANA (Reuters) – Four people were killed and seven others were wounded on Feb. 25 after a speedboat from Florida entered Cuban waters and opened fire on Cuban forces, who returned fire, Cuba’s Interior Ministry said.
All four dead were aboard the Florida-based speedboat, and another six were injured, Cuba said. In addition, the Cuban commander of border patrol boat was wounded, Cuba said.
The wounded foreign attackers were evacuated and received medical attention, Cuba said.
The incident took place amid heightened tension between Cuba and the United States, which has blocked virtually all oil shipments to the island, increasing pressure on the Communist-run government. American forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas on Jan. 3, removing a key Cuban ally from power.
“Faced with the current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its commitment to protecting its territorial waters, based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar for the Cuban state in safeguarding its sovereignty and stability in the region,” the Cuban statement said.
Reporting by Daniel Trotta in Havana.
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