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CNN Live At Daybreak

Tampa Issues Shark Warning

Aired August 15, 2001 - 07:08   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BRIAN NELSON, CNN ANCHOR: Now from the dangers of fire to the dangers of water or actually what's in the water: sharks -- hundreds of them right now.

Officials in Tampa's Pasco County have issued a shark warning for boaters and swimmers around Anclote Key.

Brian Goff of CNN affiliate WTVT in Tampa is on Anclote Key with the details now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN GOFF, WTVT REPORTER (voice over): Sharks in Florida's waters are not uncommon. What is uncommon about these sharks, however, is the sheer number of them -- estimated to be at least 300 sharks all in fairly close to the shore looking for something to eat.

Regulars around here have never seen anything like it.

CPL. DON DESO, PASCO SHERIFF'S MARINE PATROL: The only time I ever had problems is -- I cast net and had a stringer of fish behind me. That's about the closest encounter I have had with them.

GOFF: One theory about the number of sharks around is that government regulations aimed at protecting the species has caused a population explosion.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are doing everything they can to protect the sharks, so it's only natural you're going to see more sharks.

GOFF: Nevertheless, the number of sharks has authorities concerned, and a warning has been issued.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All I would ask and all the sheriff's office would ask is to take -- people take a little bit more caution -- use a little bit more caution, look before you leap sort of thing.

GOFF: Local scientists plan to have a closer look at the sharks today to try to better understand why this is happening.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GOFF: They expect -- what they expect to find really is the obvious: That the bait fish, the fish that the sharks feed off, are in close to shore. They don't really expect to find any other reason why the sharks come in here, but they would like to know why such great numbers are all concentrated in the same area.

NELSON: All right. Thank you, Brian Goff of CNN affiliate WTVT in Anclote Key, just off of Tampa.

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