HONOLULU — A tourist was left in "critical condition" after a "serious bite" by a shark while swimming in waters off of Maui's north shore on Saturday afternoon, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. The incident prompted several beach closures over Labor Day Weekend.
According to a news release by DLNR, the incident occurred on Saturday afternoon in front of the basketball courts at Paia Bay. The woman, who has been identified as being 51 years old and from France, was swimming in murky water about 100 yards from shore, according to the Maui County Police Department.
Witnesses saw the woman "was in distress and needed help," according to the County of Maui's social media. Upon arrival by Medic and Fire personnel, bystanders had brought the woman to shore and helped attend to her wounds, police said.
Signs were immediately put up telling people to stay out of the bay's waters. Normally, warning signs are taken down by noon the next day. In this instance, Maui County decided to close Baldwin Beach Park, Lower Paia Beach Park and Kuau Bay Beach Park, all along the northern shore of Maui.
The beaches reopened Monday morning, Brian Perry, Communications Director for Maui County told USA TODAY.
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Shark attacks are 'fairly rare'
John Titchen, Chief of Ocean Safety for the City & County of Honolulu, told USA TODAY that "generally speaking," shark attacks are a "fairly rare or at least infrequent occurrence." However, there are certain weather conditions and areas around the islands that attract more sharks, such as channels, harbors and murky water.
After a shark attack, protocol usually includes lifeguards and other personnel patrolling the area for 24 hours and aerial surveillance by the Fire Department in a helicopter or drones, he said.
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"Most people will never encounter a shark when they enjoy Hawaii's waters," said Carl Meyer, Ph.D. and researcher for the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, calling shark bites "very rare."
"Although we don’t know the shark species responsible for this incident, species such as tiger sharks routinely investigate objects floating at the surface and hunt a variety of large prey at the surface," he said. "A snorkeler fits the general size and motion characteristics of these prey and this may be sufficient for a shark to investigate and bite the person. This is not mistaken identity, which is a purely anthropocentric concept; it is simply a case of a generalist predator investigating an uncommon or atypical prey."
For the most part though, Meyers said his research indicates that tiger sharks are "disinterested" or "actively avoiding" people.
Sharks on Maui
Out of all the islands, Maui County, including Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe, have the most shark activity, according to Meyers. Maui's deep offshore reefs are ideal places for tiger sharks to mate, pup and feed.
Between 1995 and 2021, Maui accounted for 40% of the 126 shark bites that have happened across the state, he said.
"To be safe, swim with others preferably at a beach with lifeguards, stay close to shore, avoid murky water, and maintain your situational awareness," Meyer added. "Most sharks will avoid you. Stay calm if you sight a shark and exit the water if it shows an interest in you."
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