Hai alarm on the Dutch coast: vacationers can stay relaxed!

Hai alarm on the Dutch coast: vacationers can stay relaxed!

Ijmuiden, Niederlande - The Netherlands are a popular holiday country, especially because of their beaches on the North Sea. In recent years, sharks have been spotted more and more on the Dutch coasts, which triggers concern for many tourists. However, experts emphasize that most of these shark species are harmless to humans. According to ruHR24.de have so far been registered on the coasts of the Netherlands have been, including some who have made headlines in recent months.

An incident of May 11th is particularly relevant when it was observed that a shark near the Belgian border swam, but the species of which could not be determined. In addition, a deadly five meter long fox shark was found in July 2023 near Amsterdam. Most of the sharks viewed, such as the dog shark and the small-spotted cat shark, are small and are absolutely no danger to the bathers.

The harmless in the water

The more frequently viewed sharks include the dog shark, which becomes up to one meter long, as well as the Dornhai and the white -spotted smooth shark, both of which are somewhat larger, but are also considered harmless. Another way that occurs in the region is the blue shark, which can be up to three meters long and usually avoids coastal waters. The impressive giant shark, which was also sighted in the North Sea, can become up to ten meters long and feeds on plankton, which means that it does not pose any danger for tourists.

The white shark, which is occasionally spotted in the North Sea, is not part of its natural habitat. Nevertheless, Tagesschau that the shark stocks change in recent years due to the warming of water and climate change. This could be due to the fact that the cod moves north and thus move the sharks, rays and seaside bars from the southern waters.

scientific studies and observations

fischer in the region have started to mark the routes of the sharks by attaching small brands that look like spaghettine noodles. These brands enable the satellite tracking of the digital hikes of the sharks and contribute to documenting the movements. The aim of these studies that have been carried out every summer for over ten years is to show that the Dutch North Sea could be a place of birth for different types of sharks, especially for dog sharks.

The newer observations show that males move to Scotland and Norway in winter, while females hike to Bordeaux and the Gulf of Biskaya. In summer, both sexes return and often meet at the same waters as in the previous year. There is no need for the tourists on the beaches: the sharks are harmless, and even larger species like the giant shark are not a threat.