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Shark attacks hit an all-time worldwide record in 2015, with Florida — as always — leading the globe in the number of times sharks bit surfers, swimmers and beachfront splashers, according to researchers at the University of Florida.
Experts at the Florida Museum of National History say there were 98 such attacks worldwide in 2015 including six fatalities. The previous annual record was 88 attacks in 2000.
Of the six fatalities last year, two happened off the Indian Ocean island of Reunion; the others occurred off Australia, Egypt, New Caledonia and the United States.
The US led the world with 59 attacks, including those in Florida, eight in each of the Carolinas and seven in Hawaii. California and Texas each had two attacks, and New York and Mississippi each had one.
Australia and South Africa followed the US with 18 and 8 attacks, respectively.
Surfers were the target of 49% of unprovoked attacks in 2015, with swimmers and waders accounting for 42% and snorkelers 9%. There were no attacks on Scuba divers last year.
This number of attacks is expected to rise in line with the general increase in human populations and because people are spending more recreational time in the sea.
Despite the increase, shark populations are actually declining or remaining at greatly reduced levels as a result of over-fishing and habitat loss.
The museum’s International Shark Attack Files were first compiled in 1958 and represent the only scientifically documented database of information on all known shark attacks from the mid-1500s.
An “unprovoked attack” is defined as an incident where an attack on a live human takes place in the shark’s natural habitat without human incitement.
Agencies/Canadajournal
