THE booming shark tourism industry is being blamed for an increase in shark attacks.

Thousands of UK tourists are going to South Africa, Australia and the US to cage-dive and have the chance to come face to face with great whites.

But marine experts say sharks are now coming closer to shore, lured by fish and blood lowered into the sea as bait by trip organisers to guarantee a good show.

Last month, an amateur video was released of Mark Currie, from Barrow-in Furness, Cumbria, being attacked by a shark while cage diving in Cape Town, South Africa.

He was pulled aboard a diving boat unharmed after the 18ft great white bit into the metal bars of the cage in which he was submerged.

A week earlier, a group from Newcastle holidaying in the same area also got too near a shark, which ripped into the cage they were diving in.

They made it safely back on to their boat.

Reports of surfers been attacked have also increased in recent months.

Dr George Burgess, director of shark research at the University of Florida, has spoken out against the sport.

He said: "Shark tourism is not seeing sharks in their natural habitat. What tourists are watching is a circus.

"When you feed sharks, you are provoking them. Throwing fish and blood into the sea is altering the way they behave."

Ali Hood, of the Shark Trust, which works to conserve sharks, supports the trips, and said: "The trips are well-managed and have very strict guidelines.

"They offer a great opportunity."