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Shark alert on the French Riviera: British holidaymakers flee beaches as swimming is banned
Daily Mail ^ | 8/17/2010 | Peter Allen

Posted on 08/17/2010 2:55:24 AM PDT by markomalley

French Riviera beaches packed with British holidaymakers have been closed for swimming after a suspected shark was spotted circling in the water.

The chilling alert was issued yesterday after lifeguards patrolling in a motorboat spotted a creature measuring more than seven feet long.

‘We were taking no chances and issued the swimming ban immediately,’ said Michel Cagnaire, who is in charge of public safety in the resort of Cagnes-sur-Mer, near Nice.

As swimmers ran out of the warm Mediterranean, the scenes resembled those in the famous movie Jaws, which is about a man-eating white shark which terrorises a holiday island on the east coast of America.

Red ‘no swimming’ flags were also raised in the resorts of Villeneuve - Loubet and St. Laurent-du-Var, as people in boats telephoned warnings about the suspected shark, which had a large dorsal fin and a white belly.

It was swimming some 150 feet off the coast, prompting fears that it might be wounded or ill, and might start attacking holidaymakers.

But Veronique Vienet, chief veterinary officer for the area, underplayed the fears, saying that the creature might actually be a large dolphin.

She pointed to the fact that there has only been one fatal shark attack in French coastal waters since the 1840s.

(Excerpt) Read more at mailonsunday.co.uk ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 08/17/2010 2:55:27 AM PDT by markomalley
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To: markomalley

“We’re gonna need a bigger boat...”


2 posted on 08/17/2010 2:57:41 AM PDT by Jack Hammer
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To: markomalley

The first fellow who invents a shark repellent lotion will get filthy rich.


3 posted on 08/17/2010 3:00:51 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (I am in America but not of America (per bible: am in the world but not of it))
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To: HiTech RedNeck

Unfortunately,Edison’s comment about “I have
successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb.” doesn’t work so well with shark repellent lotion.


4 posted on 08/17/2010 3:08:25 AM PDT by B.Lyle
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To: HiTech RedNeck
We had a fatal shark attack here in Oz this morning.

A young surfer was attacked at a beach just south of Perth.He managed to swim to some nearby rocks but died soon after.

Horrible way to go.

5 posted on 08/17/2010 3:10:49 AM PDT by mitch5501 (top of the world ma!)
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To: Jack Hammer

I haven’t swam in an ocean since Jaws........The show River Monsters has me thinking twice about rivers and lakes too!


6 posted on 08/17/2010 4:14:47 AM PDT by red tie
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To: red tie

We have some pretty big catfish in our lake but nothing to be worried about...


7 posted on 08/17/2010 4:18:32 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Impeachment !)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
Potential Muskies like this used to give me the creeps as a kid.


8 posted on 08/17/2010 4:42:56 AM PDT by red tie
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

British teeth are no match for Sharkie...


9 posted on 08/17/2010 4:44:07 AM PDT by battlegearboat
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
Now I have to worry about an occasional alligator or snake head fish.

"They are considered valuable food fish. Called Ca Loc in Vietnamese, it is prized in clay pot dishes and pickled preparations. Larger species like Channa striata, Channa maculata, and Parachanna obscura are farmed in aquaculture. Snakeheads feed on plankton, aquatic insects, and mollusks when small. When adult, they mostly feed on other fish like carp, or frogs. In rare cases, small mammals such as rats are taken. The size of the snakehead species differs greatly. "Dwarf snakeheads" like Channa gachua grow to 10 inches (25 cm). Most snakeheads grow up to 2 or 3 feet (60–100 cm). Only two species (Channa marulius and Channa micropeltes) can reach a length of more than 1 meter and a weight of more than 6 kg. It is illegal to keep snakeheads as pets in all states of the USA and other countries as they have become an invasive species due to individuals releasing them into the wild. In the U.S."

These thing hae teeth and they can walk on land to other lakes or ponds since they breath air.

10 posted on 08/17/2010 4:53:05 AM PDT by red tie
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To: red tie

These (things have) teeth


11 posted on 08/17/2010 4:55:41 AM PDT by red tie
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To: markomalley

“She pointed to the fact that there has only been one fatal shark attack in French coastal waters since the 1840s.”

One shark and swimming is banned. This doesn’t help the French stereotype.


12 posted on 08/17/2010 5:05:21 AM PDT by Rebelbase (Political correctness in America today is a Rip Van Winkle acid trip.)
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To: markomalley

Who knew that many lawyers visited the French Riviera.


13 posted on 08/17/2010 5:17:34 AM PDT by maddog55 (OBAMA, Why stupid people shouldn't vote.)
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To: maddog55
Who knew that many lawyers visited the French Riviera.

Post of the day!!!

14 posted on 08/17/2010 5:18:19 AM PDT by markomalley (Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus)
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To: red tie

That’s a small muskie. Probably should have been released to grow up.

Muskie fishermen carry .38 specials in their tackle boxes for good reason.


15 posted on 08/17/2010 7:12:33 AM PDT by texmexis best (My)
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To: texmexis best

Yeah, that is why I don’t like swimming in lakes! lol


16 posted on 08/17/2010 7:24:49 AM PDT by red tie
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To: red tie

“The show River Monsters has me thinking twice about rivers and lakes too!”

Did you get a load of that toothy thing he caught in the river in Africa???

Swimming pools for me from now on.


17 posted on 08/17/2010 7:51:58 AM PDT by Jack Hammer
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To: Jack Hammer
Swimming pools for me from now on.

But you never know for sure.


18 posted on 08/17/2010 8:27:05 AM PDT by Ditto (Nov 2, 2010 -- Time to Clean House.)
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To: Ditto

Ayaaaaaieee - pool shark!!!!


19 posted on 08/17/2010 8:29:34 AM PDT by Jack Hammer
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To: Jack Hammer

Yep, that thing was incredible!


20 posted on 08/17/2010 9:48:22 AM PDT by red tie
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