Two fatal shark attack incidents in California and Mexico last week have prompted experts to speculate as to why the attacks are becoming more frequent. Their theories? Too many people, too much fishing and global warming.

So far in 2008, the International Shark Attack File has recorded four fatal shark attacks compared to the one that occurred during the course of last year. Some are blaming a growing population, simply saying that because there are more people in the ocean, there are more humans for sharks to attack.

"The one thing that's affecting shark attacks more than anything else is human activity," said Dr George Burgess of Florida University, a shark expert who maintains the database. "As the population continues to rise, so does the number of people in the water for recreation. And as long as we have an increase in human hours in the water, we will have an increase in shark bites."

Burgess says that there is also speculation that overfishing may be interfering with the sharks' food supply, as well as the possibility that the warming temperature of the sea is contributing to the problem.

'You'll find that some species will begin to appear in places they didn't in the past with some regularity,' he said.

Now a wildlife protection group is crying foul after 10 sharks have been slaughtered in Mexico near the beach where the incident in that country took place. Wildcoast says Mexican officials have created "international shark hysteria" and are using it as an excuse to kill members of the species.

'They more than likely had nothing to do with the attack. Since sharks are threatened in Mexico, this is the worst type of vengeance security imaginable,' said Aida Navarro, the group's wildlife conservation programme manager.

Gee Aida, nobody is condoning the slaughter of sharks, but it's probably safe to assume the "hysteria" was actually caused by JAWS ripping a 34 centimeter hole in a guy's thigh and the death that occurred as a result.

» Guardian