St Ives harbourmaster told of two 'shark sightings'

The oceanic whitetip shark is usually found nearer Portugal

14 June 2011

Sightings of a species of shark known to attack humans have been reported to harbour officials in Cornwall.

The harbourmaster's office in St Ives said two people on separate boats had reported seeing an oceanic whitetip shark about a mile (1.6km) offshore.

But a spokesman for the office said it was not "100% sure" yet if the creatures spotted by the fishermen were oceanic whitetips.

He said people should not "blow the reports out of all proportion".

'All is calm'

The oceanic whitetip shark is usually found far further south in deeper waters away from the coast, with Portugal being the usual northern-most reach of its habitat.

The Shark Trust said that the chances of the species being in British waters were very small and it would want to see photos or video footage before confirming a sighting.

Although the species had been known to attack humans, trust president Richard Pierce, from Bude, said there was only believed to have been one oceanic whitetip-related death within the past year in the world.

He said: "If I was swimmer in Cornwall I would not be worried."

Despite being cautious about the sighting, Mr Pierce added that it was "always exciting and interesting to get sighting reports of what may be new species to our waters".

The Mayor of St Ives Ron Tulley said that "panic hasn't struck and all is peaceful and very calm in St Ives", despite the reports.

"We've had lots of people on holiday and people relaxing on the beach with not much fear of a shark attack," he said.

Feed on plankton

"These stories do surface at intervals. If a fisherman said he saw it, then it is possible, but it does seem unlikely.

"It could have been some other creature."

Basking sharks are regular visitors to the county's shores, appearing each summer to feed on plankton.

Other species have been found washed up on the county's beaches, including a 12ft (3.8m) thresher shark, which was found in Hayle in 2009.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-13759504

Man eating shark spotted off St Ives coast

12:40pm Monday 13th June 2011

Fishermen have reporting sightings of one of the world's most aggressive sharks off the Cornish coast.

Three witnesses said they saw an oceanic whitetip in St Ives Bay.

The species is responsible for more human deaths than all other shark species combined.

The sightings were reported to the harbourmaster at St Ives.

The whitetip normally lives in warmer waters, but rising temperatures have seen several new species found in Cornish waters.

http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/camborneandredruth/9080445.Man_eating_shark_spotted_off_St_Ives_coast/?ref=mr
(Submitted by Liz R)

Feared 'Deadly Shark' Spotted Off Cornwall

Sky News – Mon, Jun 13, 2011

A species of shark thought to be to blame for hundreds of attacks on humans has been reported off the coast of Cornwall.

One sighting of an oceanic whitetip shark was made by a fisherman who said his wooden boat was rammed as he fished for mackerel.

The harbour master's office in St Ives confirmed that a second person on a separate boat had also reported seeing one of the sharks a mile off shore.

The species is blamed for many attacks on humans and brought terror to the Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh last year when a 'rogue' whitetip reportedly killed a German woman .

A spokesman for the harbour master in St Ives said they were not "100%" sure if the sharks spotted were oceanic whitetips and stressed that people should not blow the reports "out of all proportion".

The pelagic - or ocean-going - species is usually found far further south in deeper waters away from the coast, with Portugal being the usual northern-most reach of its habitat.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/feared-deadly-shark-spotted-off-cornwall-110415724.html

Deadly scorpion found in Wearside cupboard (via Dave Curtis)

The local rag reports that a deadly American scorpion shut down and halted performances at a city arts centre after being found crawling round a cupboard.
Washington Arts Centre, off Biddick Lane, closed its doors yesterday, after what is believed to be a bark scorpion, the most venomous in North America, was discovered in a cleaner's cupboard.

The Echo has been told that a cleaner raised the alarm after spotting the scorpion in the centre before it opened on Monday.

Pest controllers were at the centre yesterday and a sign at the main entrance said it would be closed for the day.

It is thought the scorpion may have come into the centre in a consignment of instruments sent over from North America.

Some of the instruments have been unpacked but it is believed a number of boxes are still sealed and standing on the centre's stage.

A man who contacted the Echo anonymously said the scorpion had been caught and is being stored in a freezer at the centre.

Tests show scorpions can survive being frozen for weeks.

Nigel Judson, from Washington Theatre Group, said the players had been rehearsing close to the stage at Washington Arts Centre on Tuesday evening.

He said: "Luckily we are between shows or we would have had a problem."

Norma Johnston, assistant head of Street Scene (Public Protection and Regulatory Services), at Sunderland City Council, said: "We decided to close the centre to allow precautionary treatments to take place.

"We believe that the scorpion may have come into the building in a consignment of musical instruments recently delivered form North America, but the species has still not officially been confirmed.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the closure and will try where possible to rearrange any classes or activities which will be disrupted as a result."

The Arizona bark scorpion is nocturnal and normally feeds on crickets or cockroaches.

Its sting can cause severe pain, and the number of victims stung is estimated to be thousands.

But in Mexico, more than 100,000 people are stung annually