ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — Reports of aggressive shark encounters have increased in the Gulf, making boaters and swimmers worried.
These sharks are reportedly aggressive, attacking not only people but also boat motors.
Captain K, a 5th generation Florida native Captain, shares details about her run-in with a tiger shark.
“When I jerked the squirrel fish bait out of the water…he went nuts. That’s the only way to describe it,” she said. “He started thrashing around in circles and then he went right for my motor and hit my prop and bit it on my outboard.”
Many captains are proposing to re-implement shark fishing to resolve the issue, claiming it would not only help charters but also prevent people from becoming victims of the shark surge.
Earnie Olsen, supervisor at the Marine Science Station Supervisor, has insight into how this surge could affect the ecosystem if not dealt with quickly.
“If you start removing apex predators indiscriminately from an area that could possibly negatively impact that food web,” Olsen warned.
While population growth may give reason to be concerned, beachgoers can follow these tips to keep their families safe while enjoying the water.
Tip 1: Take off any shiny jewelry you may have on.
Tip 2: Keep the splashing to a minimum as sharks may think you are injured prey.
Tip 3: Stay away from fishers’ poles near the docks. To be extra safe, you can purchase a device called Shark Banz.
Shark Banz keeps the sharks away by emitting a shark-repellent field to keep the swimmer safe while not harming the shark in the process.
You can buy this device on SharkBanz.com.
Tampa Tunes initiative brings musical pianos to city streets
If you’ve been to Ybor City recently, you may have seen a lone-painted piano off 7th Avenue.
Josh Holton is following a musical path and taking notes. His non-profit organization, Tampa Tunes, is installing pianos all around Tampa with a purpose.
“I want to create spaces where people can feel comfortable, where they can go. And not only can they have the right to exist and belong and feel welcome, but they can be creative and they can enjoy art,” said Josh Holton.
Holton enlisted the help of the Tampa-based Guatemalan artist Carlos Pons to paint the first piano.
“I’m a Tampa native and so I really wanted to uplift some of our local artists,” Holton explained.
The group unveiled it on January 6th at 1920 E 7th Avenue. But this won’t be their last installation.
“So I’ve decided to put one piano out per month until we get to 12 pianos for the year of 2024,” Holton stated.
Each of them will be painted and fully accessible to the public. The latest installation named “Charge” is at Hillsborough Community College.
Holton says the group is looking for donors to help find homes for pianos.
Credits:
Anchors: Dawson Cordova, Abby Papasodero
Producer: Ari Angelo
Reporters: Fallon Crowell, Meghan Bowman
Social Media: Victoria Harris
Technical Director: Melissa Baldelomar
Teleprompter: Samantha Allen
Video Editor: Aviva Kram
Cameras: Jimmy Rosilio
Web Editor: Joao Victor Pina
Graduate Assistant: McKenzie Muskett
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Stephanie Anderson