By 2048, Ireland could be faced with a swarm of sharks since the seas only have to increase by 1.8°F (1°C) for the beasts to make it their new home.
According to The Irish Sun, amid global warming, rising sea temperatures could bring with it a northward migration of Great Whites, Hammerheads, and Blacktip sharks to the seas of Ireland and the UK.
New shark species could be swimming towards Ireland as seas warm https://t.co/fsPibGn4y3 pic.twitter.com/HjGoXH5yf9
— Independent.ie (@Independent_ie) July 17, 2018
Dr. Ken Collins, who studies sharks, believes that in 30 years or so, the availability of prey in warming Irish waters could very well make the area ideal for the infamous creatures.
“You get Great Whites off the coast of South Africa where the water is colder than here and I see no reason why we should not have them in our waters,” Collins stated.
“There are Great Whites in the Med [Mediterranean Sea], which isn’t too far away and so I see no reason why they shouldn’t be spotted here, particularly off the coast of Cornwall where there is an abundant supply of seals, which is their favorite food.”
Sharks could be heading for Irish seas as waters warm New species heading for our waters from warmer regions due to climate change
— NetworkOfNewsIreland (@NOfNews_Ireland) July 17, 2018
https://t.co/9NpQdoxPVm
It is said that they would first set up shop, so to speak, near the coasts of Cork and Wexford prior to making their way to southern England.
Read More: Second largest sharks in the world spotted swimming off the Irish coast
Sharks are not new to Europe, however, since there have been over 200 shark attacks in the continent, wherein Italy has the highest rate of around 50 in total. The UK comes in a close second with 38 shark attacks since 1900.
So far, there have been no fatal attacks in either Ireland or the UK, but this could soon change with the potential for new players to enter the equation.
Read More: Man punches shark attacking his wife, does his Irish mother proud
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