Shark Attack: Global and

U.S. Perspective
George H. Burgess and Alexia Morgan

International
Shark Attack File

Florida Program
for Shark
Research
Worldwide Shark Attacks 1580-2004
N = 1969
United States Shark Attacks 1670-2004
N = 861
 Number of Attacks

0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
1960
1962

World
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
USA

1974
1976
1978
1980
1982

Year
N=1405

1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
World and USA Shark Attacks 1960-2004

2002
2004
 Florida Annual Tourists vs Shark Attacks 1990 - 2001
Number of Attacks Number of Deaths
Tourists per year Florida Residents & Visitors
40 80000000

35 70000000

30 60000000
Shark Attacks

People
25 50000000

20 40000000

15 30000000

10 20000000

5 10000000

0 0
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Year
© Howard Cohen
 USA Beach Attendance, Surf Rescues, and
Shark Attacks 1994-2000
Attendance Shark Attacks Rescues
120 60
Beach Attendence (Millions)

100 50

Rescues (x 1000)
Shark Attacks
80 40

60 30

40 20

20 10

0 0
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
Year
Florida Beach Attendance, Surf Rescues, and
Shark Attacks 1994-2000
Attendance Rescues Shark Attacks
Beach Attendance (Millions)

14 40

Number of Shark Attacks

12

Rescues ( x 100) and

30
10

8
20
6

4
10
2

0 0
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
Year
Florida Shark Attacks 1882-2004
n = 500

10-29 30-69 1-9

 Number of Attacks

0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
1960
1962
1964
1966
Volusia County

1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
All Other Counties

Year
1984
1986
1988
1960-2004 N =472

1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
Florida and Volusia County Attacks

2000
2002
2004
 Number of Attacks

0
5
10
15
20
25
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982

Year
1984
1986
1988
1960-2004 N=304

1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
Florida Attacks Excluding Volusia County

2004
 Florida Shark Attacks by Month
(1911-2004) N=463
80
Number of Attacks

70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Month
 Number of Attacks
00
00

0
10
20
30
40
50
60
-0
75
08 9
00
-0
85
09 9
00
-0
95
10 9
00
-1
05
11 9
00
-1
15
12 9
00
-1
25
13 9
00
-1
35
14 9
00
-1
45
15 9
00
-1
55

Time of Day
16 9
00
-1
65
17 9
00
-1
75
18 9
00
-1
85
19 9
00
-1
95
20 9
00
of Day (1920-2004) N=347

-2
35
9
Florida Shark Attacks by Time
Florida Victim Activity 1900-1999
 Number of Attacks

0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Sp
in
n er
Bl
ac
H kt
ip
am
m
er
he
ad

Bu
ll
N
ur
se
C
ar Ti
ch ge
a rh r
in
us
sp
p .

Shark Species
Le
m
on
Sa
nd
b ar
Florida (76 of 500 cases)

Bl
ue

M
ak
o
Identified Attacking Species of Sharks in
 Florida Drownings and Shark Attack
Fatalities 1992-2000
30
Drownings Shark Fatalities
Number of Deaths

25

20

15

10

0
1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000
Year
Year 2000 Beach Injuries and Fatalities
Estimated attendance 264,156,728
Lifeguard provision of medical care 236,642
Lifeguard rescues from drowning 70,771

Drowning (lifeguard areas) 12

Drowning (non-lifeguard areas) 62
Fatalities (causes other than drowning) 58
Total fatalities 132

Unprovoked shark attack 23

Fatalities 0

Sources: USLA (from 68 ocean lifeguard agencies within jurisdiction),

ISAF (same beach areas). In 2000 there were 54 unprovoked shark bites,
including 1 fatality all US coastal waters.
Beach
Meshing
 Reducing The Risks

• Minimize splashing while in water

• Avoid areas with effluents entering sea

• Don’t go into water if bleeding

• Don’t go where bait fishes are seen or

fishing is occurring
 Reducing The Risks
• Avoid murky water situations

• Don’t go in water from dusk to dawn

• Stay in groups - don’t go too far from shore

• Don’t wear shiny jewelry

• Don’t harass sharks!