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 ...
“We’re gonna need a bigger boat...”
The first fellow who invents a shark repellent lotion will get filthy rich.
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.
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.
I haven’t swam in an ocean since Jaws........The show River Monsters has me thinking twice about rivers and lakes too!
We have some pretty big catfish in our lake but nothing to be worried about...
British teeth are no match for Sharkie...
"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 (60100 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.
These (things have) teeth
“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.
Who knew that many lawyers visited the French Riviera.
Post of the day!!!
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.
Yeah, that is why I don’t like swimming in lakes! lol
“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.
But you never know for sure.
Ayaaaaaieee - pool shark!!!!
Yep, that thing was incredible!
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