White shark not faring well

A white shark caught off the coast of Huntington Beach is not getting

along with its neighbors at its new home in the Monterey Bay

Aquarium.

Marine Biologist Randy Kochevar said the shark had killed two

other smaller sharks in a two-week period, but is doing well and

continuing to pull in curious visitors.

“We don’t know exactly what happened in these interactions,”

Kochevar said of the attacks that occurred on Feb. 23 and Mar. 7. In

the first attack, staff members discovered the remains of a soupfin

shark that had its tail bitten off. A soupfin shark was also killed

in the second incident despite the efforts of several staff members

to treat the animal’s lacerations.

“There are times when two species aren’t compatible,” Kochevar

said, adding that the soupfin sharks had not been mindful to stay out

of the shark’s way. Other animals in the exhibit, Kochevar said, do

their best to keep their distance. The remaining soupfin sharks in

the exhibit have been relocated.

Overall, the white shark, estimated to be about 5 1/2 feet long

and 100 pounds, is doing well Kochevar said.

“Her swim behavior is great. She spends more time gliding through

the exhibit instead of pumping her tail,” he said.

No other white shark has ever survived in captivity for more than

16 days, and the Huntington Beach white shark is the only one of its

kind to actively eat in captivity, Kochevar said.

In late August, the infant shark, at the time believed to between

6 months and 1 year old, was accidentally snagged in a fisherman’s

gill net off the coast of Huntington Beach. Aquarium officials soon

took possession of the animal and caged it in a special observatory

net pen for 23 days near Malibu before transporting it nearly 300

miles to the aquarium. Aquarium officials have offered no clear

timeline on when they plan to release the animal back into the wild,

but Kochevar said the aquarium would return the fish before it got

too big to be kept in captivity.

The exhibit has been a boon for the aquarium, boosting attendance

by nearly 30%. Kochevar said the exhibit has been a chance to learn

about how efficiently sharks digest food and teach the public about

the importance of shark conservation.

Huntington Beach retail sector lacks

Surf City residents continue to do their shopping outside of

Huntington Beach, depriving the city of sales tax dollars, a recent

report found.

In a countywide report published by firm Ultra Research Inc.,

Huntington Beach came in 21st among the 34 cities in Orange County

for per capita sales. Huntington Beach is the third most populous

city in Orange County. Overall, retail taxable sales increased 5.6%

from 2002, while per capita taxable retail sales increased

approximately 4.3%.

The report found that Huntington Beach residents spend about

$1,846 per person outside of city limits, a 25% increase in

“leakage” from 2001. The report estimates Huntington Beach businesses

lost out on about $365 million in sales.

The largest categories of retail sales leakage are general

merchandise, which totals nearly $130 million in lost retail sales;

other retail stores, at $106 million; service stations, at $43

million, and eating and drinking places, with $36 million in losses.

In the “capture” category, the two money-earning categories of retail

sales are building materials, with $28 million, and food stores,

earning $9 million.

Lifeguard candidates prepare for more

Marine Safety held tryouts Sunday for candidates interested in

guarding Surf City’s 3 1/2 miles of beachfront.

“We’re pleased with the turnout, and we’re inviting 24 people to

return for further training,” said chief lifeguard Kyle Lindo.

More than 60 applicants signed up to participate in the grueling

three-event swimming and running test. Candidates had to endure

58-degree water and sizable surf while making one full trip and two

half-trips around the barnacle-encrusted pier pilings.

Lindo said 41 applicants finished all three events with the top

finishers invited to participate in a 110-hour training program.

Trainees will compete in physical, practical and written

examinations, hoping to finish at the top of the class.

Depending on the number of vacancies created by any of the 140

current guards who might decide not to return, top finishers will be

offered seasonal employment with a starting pay of $14.12 an hour.