Fins up: Are shark attacks increasing? Here's what recent data shows.
Why are people so fascinated with sharks? Perhaps it's the mixture of fascination, terror and respect for their strength. As one of the world's top predators, sharks are both dangerous and beautiful while being essential to marine environments, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Sanctuaries.
As the ocean's top predators, sharks maintain their balance by feeding on sick, weak, or overabundant animals, including fish, marine mammals and other ocean life, according to NOAA.
Despite their terrifying reputation, only three of the 350-plus shark species are thought to be responsible for roughly two-thirds of all shark attacks, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
How common are shark attacks?
You're far more likely to be struck by lightning than to be attacked by a shark. Shark attacks are considered extremely rare. The Florida Museum, a state natural history museum, puts the odds of being attacked by a shark at 1 in 11.5 million, while the odds of being struck by lightning in a given year are 1 in 1.2 million, according to NOAA.
TrackingSharks says eight shark attacks occurred as of July 7 in five states: Florida, Hawaii, North Carolina, New York and South Carolina. In 2024, there were 28 shark attacks in the United States, down from 36 in 2023. Since 2021, shark attacks have been on the decline.
More: 'Jaws' scared swimmers out of the ocean 50 years ago. Real locations of Amity's terror
Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them.
According to data released by the International Shark Attack File, 2024 was an "exceptionally quiet year" for shark bites around the world. Forty-seven unprovoked attacks were reported globally. That was 22 fewer than 2023 and well below the 10-year average of 70. On average, six fatal attacks are reported each year.
The shark species most frequently linked to attacks
These are the five shark species most often cited in nonfatal unprovoked attacks on humans:
More: Summer of 'Jaws': Shark Week 2025 stocked with drama, dread ... and dancing
The U.S. leads the world in shark attacks
According to the International Shark Attack File, the majority of the U.S. incidents occur off the coast of Florida. That might be too surprising considering that Florida has the longest coastline in the contiguous United States.
How to reduce your risk of an attack
CONTRIBUTING Doyle Rice, Natalie Neysa Alund/USA TODAY
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Are there sharks in Delaware waters? Yes, here's what you need to know
Fifty years ago, the first summer blockbuster made people wonder if it's safe to go in the water. "Jaws" was nightmare fuel for people who enjoyed going to the beach but wondered if the apex predator was lurking in the blue void. Fast forward 50 years, and sharks are still roaming the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean. However, there isn't much of a reason to fear going in the water. How many shark attacks have happened in Delaware? Since 1837, there have been five shark attacks in Delaware waters, according to the database at the University of Florida. The biggest period for shark attacks was in the 1960s when two were reported in Delaware. The last two attacks were a 14-year-old boy who was hospitalized after a shark bite at Cape Henlopen State Park in June 2020, according to a Delaware Online/The News Journal story from 2021. That bite was likely from a sandbar shark, a state expert said. In 2014, another teen was bitten by a shark, also at Cape Henlopen State Park. How many sharks are in Delaware? According to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, as many as 62 species of sharks can be found in the Atlantic Ocean, Delaware Bay and inland bays. Included in the 62 is the great white shark. The great white, which has terrorized people ever since the movie "Jaws" was released in 1975, is the least common species found in Delaware waters. What are the most common sharks in Delaware? Sandbar shark According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the sandbar shark, also known as a brown or thickskin shark, can grow up to 8 feet long and weigh up to 200 pounds. The sandbar is among the largest sharks found in coastal waters. They live in shallow coastal waters and can be found on the East Coast from Cape Cod to Florida. Dogfish shark There are two varieties of the dogfish shark – smooth and spiny. Spiny dogfish can grow up to 4 feet and have two dorsal fins with ungrooved large spines. Smooth dogfish sharks can grow to 5 feet. They live in shallow bays, continental shelves and near offshore banks. Sand tiger According to Oceana, the sand tiger shark lives near the seafloor in surf zones, shallow bays and coral and rocky reefs. They can grow to more than 10 feet and weigh 350 pounds. The sand tiger shark is the only shark known to maintain neutral buoyancy by gulping air at the water's surface and holding it in its stomach. This allows the sand tiger shark to hover motionless in the water. Atlantic mako shark According to Oceana, the Atlantic mako shark lives in the open ocean and reaches lengths of 12 feet and weights at least 1,200 pounds. It is one of the fastest fish on the planet, swimming at speeds around 45 mph. These sharks are caught commercially or accidentally in fisheries. These sharks are valued for the high quality of their fins and meat. Hitting the beach: Are Delaware beaches safe for swimmers? Here's what the numbers say How to avoid sharks Again, once you enter the ocean or Delaware Bay, you are in their world. So here are a few tips from the DNREC and the County of Maui, Hawaii: Swim at lifeguard-monitored beaches, and follow their advice and any posted warning signs. Always swim in a group. Don't stray too far from the shore. Swim in water where you can see your feet. Avoid the water at dawn, dusk and at night. Don't enter the water if you have any open wounds or are bleeding in any way. Don't wear shiny objects in the water. Leave the water quickly and calmly if a shark is sighted; if you see a shark, alert lifeguards or other swimmers immediately. SHARK WEEK: Learn about the TV event and its copycats If you watch What: Discovery Channel's Shark Week When: Through July 26, starting at 8 each night Where: Airs on the Discovery Channel and streams on Discovery+ and HBO Max This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Which sharks are in Delaware waters. How to stay safe Solve the daily Crossword
USA Today
4 days ago
- USA Today
Fins up: Are shark attacks increasing? Here's what recent data shows.
Combine the 50th anniversary of the movie "Jaws" – which started the nation's shark obsession in 1975 – with Discovery Channel's 37th annual Shark Week that begins July 20, and sharks might be getting extra attention this summer. Why are people so fascinated with sharks? Perhaps it's the mixture of fascination, terror and respect for their strength. As one of the world's top predators, sharks are both dangerous and beautiful while being essential to marine environments, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Sanctuaries. As the ocean's top predators, sharks maintain their balance by feeding on sick, weak, or overabundant animals, including fish, marine mammals and other ocean life, according to NOAA. Despite their terrifying reputation, only three of the 350-plus shark species are thought to be responsible for roughly two-thirds of all shark attacks, according to the World Wildlife Fund. How common are shark attacks? You're far more likely to be struck by lightning than to be attacked by a shark. Shark attacks are considered extremely rare. The Florida Museum, a state natural history museum, puts the odds of being attacked by a shark at 1 in 11.5 million, while the odds of being struck by lightning in a given year are 1 in 1.2 million, according to NOAA. TrackingSharks says eight shark attacks occurred as of July 7 in five states: Florida, Hawaii, North Carolina, New York and South Carolina. In 2024, there were 28 shark attacks in the United States, down from 36 in 2023. Since 2021, shark attacks have been on the decline. More: 'Jaws' scared swimmers out of the ocean 50 years ago. Real locations of Amity's terror Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them. According to data released by the International Shark Attack File, 2024 was an "exceptionally quiet year" for shark bites around the world. Forty-seven unprovoked attacks were reported globally. That was 22 fewer than 2023 and well below the 10-year average of 70. On average, six fatal attacks are reported each year. The shark species most frequently linked to attacks These are the five shark species most often cited in nonfatal unprovoked attacks on humans: More: Summer of 'Jaws': Shark Week 2025 stocked with drama, dread ... and dancing The U.S. leads the world in shark attacks According to the International Shark Attack File, the majority of the U.S. incidents occur off the coast of Florida. That might be too surprising considering that Florida has the longest coastline in the contiguous United States. How to reduce your risk of an attack CONTRIBUTING Doyle Rice, Natalie Neysa Alund/USA TODAY
Miami Herald
7 days ago
- Miami Herald
Massive baby sea creature and mom put on show off CA coast. See ‘rare occurrence'
A massive sea creature was spotted off the coast of California with her baby in a moment deemed a 'thrill' for boaters. The boaters got the chance on July 14 to witness a show – a baby humpback whale and her mama breaching, according to a Facebook post by Monterey Bay Whale Watch. The 'double breach' is a 'rare occurrence' that made for a memorable moment, boaters said. Humpbacks usually display this behavior as a means of communicating with other whales as the sound of them slapping their bodies against the water can be 'heard for miles' underwater, according to The Marine Mammal Center. 'Humpback whales reach sexual maturity between the ages of 4 and 10 years,' according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Calves stay close to their mom for up to a year before weaning, with the mother being 'protective' and 'swimming closely and often touching them with their flippers,' according to the NOAA. Boaters also witnessed some 'fun behaviors' from another calf, even getting the chance to spot some 'tail lobbing,' the group said. Throughout the day groups got to see 112 humpback whales, 20 Risso's dolphins and two harbor porpoises, the group said. Facebook users rushed to the comments to share their thoughts on the pictures, with one person saying, 'Spectacular!!!!' 'FANTASTIC PHOTOS!!,' another wrote. Monterey is about a 120-mile drive south from San Francisco.
