While shark attacks generally receive a lot of press and end up headlining newscasts when one occurs, are you aware of the actual numbers of attacks in any given year? Keep in mind that while any harm to a human is unfortunate and can be tragic, the global population is over 7 billion people. How many attacks would you estimate occur?
In 2013, 116 shark attacks were reported globally. 19 of these were questionable, meaning that either the shark may have been provoked or shark involvement was unconfirmed. The total attacks, confirmed as unprovoked shark attacks numbered 97, including 13 that proved to be fatal. An unprovoked attack, is an incident occurring in a shark’s natural habitat without the human instigating any aggression toward the shark or provoking it in any way.
In 2012, an annual total of unprovoked attacks numbered 80, quite a bit less than 2013. There were 78 2011 attacks and 82 2010 attacks. In general, the number of unprovoked attacks increases slightly from year to year. This is attributed to growing numbers of time spent vacationing and spending time in the ocean waters, increasing the likelihood of interactions between sharks and humans.
Interestingly, while the world population is rising and recreational swimming in the sea is more frequent, the shark population is decreasing. With this variable in play, it would seem that attacks would not continue to be as steady in number. Where variability is seen is in the increase in attacks in the United States. 2013 yielded 61 attacks in the US, 2012 saw 53, and 2011 reported a significantly lower total of 31. The total population of the US is over 314 million people. However, while the number of shark attacks is highest in the US, the rate of fatalities related to sharks is very low – only 2% in both 2012 and 2013. The International Shark Attack File explains the low death rate by indicating the highly developed medical facilities and increased safety personnel in the areas most prone to attacks.
These statistics are not meant to minimize the trauma of shark attack, but to give perspective to the media hype. Let’s just compare annual deaths of causes other than those due to sharks (and remember, most of the unprovoked attacks did not result in death). Death by shark attack happens to 1 in 3,748,067 according the International Shark Attack File. In comparison, 1 in 79,746 die of lightning strike. 1 in 4,919 die in bicycling accidents. 1 in 63 die of the flu. The chances of shark attack, in comparison to these other scenarios is startling. You are more likely to die in the car on the way to beach (1 in 84) than by encountering a shark when you get there.
Shark attacks continue to be media sensations. Survivors continue to be heroes. Fatalities are still tragedies. They may continue to rise slowly, but the risk is probably not as high as is commonly thought.
*Statistics provided by International Shark Attack File, Shark Research Committee, and Shark Attack File
