In January, a shark tour operator in Oahu was attacked while working, resulting in serious injuries to his arm that required surgery, but fortunately, he did not lose the limb.
Since the incident, the shark tour industry in Hawaii has faced criticism, with some describing it as “completely lawless.” During a recent convention attended by marine biologists, fishermen, water experts, and shark tour operators, participants discussed the challenges and potential solutions to prevent such attacks.
There have reportedly been six attacks related to shark tours in the last six years.
Fisherman Eddie Ebusui expressed concern about the lack of regulation in the industry, stating, “It’s the wild, wild west out there. This industry needs to be regulated. There are at least 20 to 25 boats out there, and the sharks are at the surface, following the boats.”
A major concern is the practice of chumming, or feeding sharks to attract them for tourists. Dr. Michael Domeier, Director of the Marine Conservation Science Institute, emphasized that this practice is illegal. He remarked, “Absolutely against the law. If the state had intended to allow these boats to feed the sharks, they would’ve implemented stricter regulations to ensure public safety.”
Dr. Domeier also spoke about the January attack on Gavin Newland, the employee injured while working out of Haleiwa. After communicating with Newland, he learned that the employee received no training for the job, reported daily chumming, and noted that there was no first aid kit on the boat. Dr. Domeier stressed the need for legislative changes to enhance safety in the industry, stating, “If we have this industry, we need to keep people safe.”
While chumming is prohibited by Hawaii state and local laws, there are currently no regulations against close interactions with sharks.