George H. Burgess and Alexia Morgan

Shark Attack: Global and U.S. Perspective

International Shark Attack File

Florida Program for Shark Research

Worldwide Shark Attacks 1580-2004 N = 1969

United States Shark Attacks 1670-2004 N = 861

World and USA Shark Attacks 1960-2004

N=1405

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1960

1962

1964

1966

1968

1970

1972

1974

1976

1978

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

Year

Num

ber o

f Atta

cks

World USA

Florida Annual Tourists vs Shark Attacks 1990 - 2001

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Year

Sha

rk A

ttack

s

0

10000000

20000000

30000000

40000000

50000000

60000000

70000000

80000000

Peo

ple

Number of Attacks Number of Deaths

Tourists per year Florida Residents & Visitors

© Howard Cohen

USA Beach Attendance, Surf Rescues, and Shark Attacks 1994-2000

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 20000

20

40

60

80

100

120

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Bea

ch A

ttend

ence

(Mill

ions

)

Year

Attendance Shark Attacks Rescues

Res

cues

(x 1

000)

Shar

k At

tack

s

Florida Beach Attendance, Surf Rescues, and Shark Attacks 1994-2000

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 20000

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

0

10

20

30

40

Bea

ch A

ttend

ance

(Mill

ions

)

Year

Attendance Rescues Shark Attacks

Res

cues

( x

100)

and

Num

ber o

f Sha

rk A

ttack

s

Florida Shark Attacks 1882-2004 n = 500

1-910-29 30-69

Florida and Volusia County Attacks 1960-2004 N =472

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1960

1962

1964

1966

1968

1970

1972

1974

1976

1978

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

Year

Num

ber

of A

ttac

ks

All Other CountiesVolusia County

Florida Attacks Excluding Volusia County 1960-2004 N=304

0

5

10

15

20

25

1960

1962

1964

1966

1968

1970

1972

1974

1976

1978

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

Year

Num

ber o

f Atta

cks

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

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Num

ber o

f Atta

cks

Month

Florida Shark Attacks by Time of Day (1920-2004) N=347

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

0000

-0759

0800

-0859

0900

-0959

1000

-1059

1100

-1159

1200

-1259

1300

-1359

1400

-1459

1500

-1559

1600

-1659

1700

-1759

1800

-1859

1900

-1959

2000

-2359

Time of Day

Num

ber o

f Atta

cks

Florida Victim Activity 1900-1999

Identified Attacking Species of Sharks in Florida (76 of 500 cases)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Spinne

rBlac

ktip

Hammerh

ead

Bull

Nurse

Tiger

Carcha

rhinu

s spp

.Le

monSan

dbar

Blue

Mako

Shark Species

Num

ber o

f Atta

cks

Florida Drownings and Shark Attack Fatalities 1992-2000

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Num

ber o

f Dea

ths

Year

Shark FatalitiesDrownings

Year 2000 Beach Injuries and Fatalities

Estimated attendance 264,156,728Lifeguard provision of medical care 236,642Lifeguard rescues from drowning 70,771

Drowning (lifeguard areas) 12Drowning (non-lifeguard areas) 62Fatalities (causes other than drowning) 58

Total fatalities 132

Unprovoked shark attack 23Fatalities 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 orfishing 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!