Sharks!

Updated October 4, 2023 | Infoplease Staff

Myths and statistics about the oceans' most fearsome creature

by David Johnson

Read more Shark Facts Visit the Shark Hall of Fame Attack Statistics According to the International Shark Attack File, between 1580 and 2014 there were 2,777 confirmed shark attacks around the world. Region Confirmed Attacks Deaths   United States 1104 35   Hawaii 136 9   Australia 572 153   Africa 346 94   Asia 129 48   Europe 51 27   South America 117 26   Antilles and the Bahamas 70 16   Middle America 56 27   Pacific Islands, Oceania 126 49   Reunion Island 37 17   New Zealand 49 9   Other 21 7   World 2,777 49 What Are My Chances of an Attack? Sharks might seem like terrifying creatures of the deep, ready to eat humans, but that's a falsehood. According to a New York Post review, taking a selfie is even more dangerous than getting fatally attacked by a shark![1] Here are some other fast facts on the chances of shark attacks: In the U.S., your chances of getting killed by lightning are 30 times greater than dying of a shark attack. Bees, wasps, and snakes kill more people each year than sharks. Drowning, heart attacks, beach accidents resulting in spinal injury, sunburn, cuts from stepping on sea shells, dehydration, jellyfish stings, and traffic accidents going to or from the beach are all far more common than shark attacks. Between 1990 and 2009, there were 15,011 bicycle fatalities, compared with only 14 deaths due to shark attack. In 2009 alone, there were 630 deaths due to bicycles and 1 shark-related fatality. Between 1985 and 2010, there were 1,602 tornadoes in the state of Florida, which resulted in 125 deaths. Florida waters witnessed 484 shark attacks and 6 fatalities. Between 1990 and 2006, 16 people died as a result of sand hole collapse, while 11 fatalities were attributed to shark attacks during the same time period.

While "Jaws" and other movies and TV shows portray sharks as ferocious predators aggressively devouring innocent swimmers, nothing could be further from the truth.

Sharks are not bloodthirsty maniacal killers. As the ocean's number one predator, sharks help maintain the balance of nature by reducing animal populations.

Shark Deaths in Numbers

Considering that tens of thousands of people come in close contact with sharks each year while swimming, surfing, or boating, the number of shark attacks is negligible. In 2015, while there were 98 confirmed "unprovoked" shark attacks — surpassing the previous high of 88 in 2000 — in the world, there were actually fewer deaths: 6 deaths in 2015 compared with 11 deaths in 2000.

However, according to the most recent findings in 2022 by the International Shark Attack File, there were a total of 57 confirmed unprovoked shark attacks globally.^[2] This number was lower than the average annual number of incidents over the previous five years, which stood at 701. Of these attacks, five were fatal, marking a decrease from nine deaths in 2021. 23. In the United States, there were 51 shark attacks, with one of these being fatal.^[3]

Please note that these statistics do not include provoked attacks, which are defined as incidents where a human initiates interaction with a shark in some way. There were 32 such incidents in 2022.^[4]

Inaccurate Statistics

The actual number of attacks is hard to determine because of poor reporting in many areas. News about shark attacks is often suppressed so tourists will not be driven away.

Most shark attacks occur on the inshore side of a sandbar or between sandbars because fish congregate there and because sharks can become trapped at low tide. Sharp drop-offs also attract lots of fish and, therefore, sharks.

Hit and Run

The most common type of attack is the so-called "hit and run" assault. The shark bites and then quickly releases the person and disappears. These attacks usually involve injuries to the leg below the knee and are not usually fatal. Humans are usually considered too bony to be a good meal for a shark.

Hit-and-run attacks are probably most often cases of mistaken identity. They usually happen near the surface and in poor visibility. Breaking surf, heavy currents, and other factors may make it hard for the shark to see its victim clearly.

Surfboards and Seals

Seen from below, swimmers or surfboarders are often mistaken for seals or sea lions, whose fatty bodies are a favorite treat for sharks. Human splashing creates irregular ripples in the water below, which to a shark may indicate an injured seal or fish, that likely be an easy meal.

"Fishy Jewelry"

Shiny jewelry that gleams like fish scales, multi-color swimsuits, and irregular tanning, especially on the bottom of the feet, could also confuse a shark into thinking a person was an animal.

In some hit-and-run attacks, sharks could be displaying dominance behavior, perhaps warning a human that it is intruding in its territory.

When attacks are reported, it is often difficult to determine what type of shark was involved since even experts can have trouble distinguishing them when in the water.

In Florida waters, black tip, black nose, and spinner sharks are probably responsible for most of the hit-and-run attacks.

"Bump and bite" and sneak attacks are much more rare and more apt to result in serious injury or fatality. These incidents usually take place in deeper water and are not believed to be cases of mistaken identity. Rather, sharks are angry or want to eat.

Most attacks involving sea disasters, such as a plane crash or a shipwreck, fall into the bump-and-bite or sneak categories.

In bump-and-bite attacks, the shark circles its victim then bumps into it before attacking. Sneak attacks occur without warning. Often, these attacks are repeated several times.

Fearsome Great White Shark

White, tiger, and bull sharks are believed responsible for most bump-and-bite and sneak attacks on humans. These are the largest species that eat human-size prey, including marine mammals, sea turtles, and large fish.

Other species believe to have attacked in this manner, but more rarely, include the hammerhead, short fin mako, oceanic whitetip, Galapagos, and some reef sharks such as the Caribbean.

Gray reef, lemon, dusky, blue, sand tiger, nurse, and Ganges River sharks will also attack humans.

Still, of the more than 375 species in the world only about 30 have ever been reported to even have attacked humans. In fact the largest species, the whale and basking sharks, eat only plankton.

Even so, experts warn that any shark six feet long or more is large and powerful enough to kill a person and should be treated with caution.

Provoked attacks are most common when a person touches a shark, including helping untangle it from fishing nets. Divers who touch or feed a shark risk attack.

Tips for Avoiding Attack

• Stay out of the water at night, dusk, or dawn. Sharks are most active at night.
• Swim in a group. Sharks prefer to attack lone victims.
• Keep close to shore. It will be easier for help to reach you in an attack.
• Avoid sandbars and sharp drop-offs where fish congregate.
• Stay out of polluted or murky water.
• Avoid areas being used by fishermen.
• Be wary of feeding birds, or porpoises, which indicate the presence of fish.
• Do not swim if you are bleeding. Sharks can detect tiny amounts of blood.
• Do not wear shiny jewelry; underwater it resembles fish scales.
• Avoid bright swimsuits and uneven tanning. Contrasts attract sharks.
• Do not splash a lot, since it attracts sharks.
• Keep pets out of the water. Erratic movements attract sharks.
• Never try to touch any type of shark.

*Statistics are from the International Shark Attack File, maintained by the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida, Gainesville, and the American Elasmobranch Society.