Shark Attack Numbers Break Record In 2015

GAINESVILLE, FL — Last year was one for the record books, but not in a good way. The number of confirmed, unprovoked shark attacks climbed to 98 worldwide, surpassing the previous record of 88 set back in 2000.

The news for the Sunshine State is a mixed bag. The state once again led the nation and world in the number of confirmed attacks at 30, according to the International Shark Attack File at the University of Florida. The good news, however, is that none of Florida’s attacks were fatal. The only state to witness a fatality related to a shark attack in 2015 was Hawaii, which also recorded seven confirmed attacks.

Here’s the breakdown of states with confirmed, unprovoked attacks:

• Florida – 30
• North Carolina – 8
• South Carolina – 8
• Hawaii – 7
• California – 2
• Texas – 2
• New York – 1
• Mississippi – 1

News of the increasing number of attacks comes as no real surprise to George Burgess, the director of the International Shark Attack File, which is part of the Florida Museum of National History on the UF campus.

“Sharks plus humans equals attacks,” Burgess explained. “As our population continues to rapidly grow and shark populations slowly recover, we’re going to see more interactions.”

See Also:

• Shark Attacks: What Are The Odds?
• Watch: Florida Man Exacts Revenge On Shark
• Florida Man Punches Shark to Stop Attack

While Florida’s 2015 attacks added up to 30, that number didn’t break the state’s record. The record high was 37, recorded in 2000. Brevard County once again led the state with eight attacks, followed closely by Volusia County with seven.

All told, Burgess said, there were six fatalities worldwide.

While the number of shark attacks is rising, Burgess said the likelihood of being attacked remains low. Spiders, dogs and lightning killed more people than sharks last year, according to Burgess.

“Shark attacks in general are really a nonentity when we think of causes of mortality involved with humans,” Burgess said in a previous interview. “It’s a lot more dangerous driving to the beach.”

Staying Safe in the Water

The odds are against a Florida beachgoer becoming a victim of a shark attack, but that doesn’t mean commonsense shouldn’t be used in the water, Burgess said.

“The sharks are swimming in and amongst us all the time,” he said. “They’re doing their thing.”

To avoid attacks, Burgess recommends people always remember the fact that humans are not part of a shark’s ecosystem.

“We’re invading their world,” he said. “We’ve got to have some boundaries. (The ocean) is not a backyard or the YMCA pool.”

People can also help themselves by:

• Not swimming at dusk, dawn or at night
• Not swimming where people are fishing, where fish are schooling or where seabirds are feeding
• Taking off shiny jewelry before getting in the water
• Hitting the shark on the nose, or clawing at the eyes or gills if attacked

For more information, visit the International Shark Attack File online.