Brazilian city adopted preventive measures in response to repeated shark attacks

The metropolitan region of Recife, the capital of Pernambuco state in northeastern Brazil, has registered three shark attacks on people in the last two weeks and has begun Saturday a series of actions to prevent such incidents with sharks.

The actions complement the work of the Regional Committee for Monitoring Shark Incidents (CEMIT), which this week received resources amounting to R$2 million (US$380,000)

This Saturday, 24 expeditions began to capture and tag the animals near the Suape seaport, using 30 acoustic receivers to pinpoint the movement of sharks on the beaches in greater detail.

The tourist beach of Boa Viagem, in Recife, and the neighboring Piedade, in Jaboatão dos Guararapes and the most critical point of the attacks, started a campaign to sensitize the population, which a week after two attacks continued to enter the sea in danger zones.

Lifeguards, metropolitan police, and firefighters intensified their vigilance, and street vendors and food booth workers were also instructed to join the campaign, according to a statement released by the Recife City Hall.

The most recent attack occurred last Monday when a young woman was bitten in several parts of her body by a shark and suffered the amputation of part of her arms.

This event occurred less than 500 meters away from the one registered on Sunday when a 14-year-old boy was bitten, and his leg had to be amputated.