Shark attacks: Are bites common in Florida? Database tracks how many known on Treasure Coast since 1998 (2024)

FAQs

How many shark attacks have there been on the coast of Florida? ›

According to the International Shark Attack File, the state saw 16 cases last year, which represent 44% of the U.S. total and 23% of unprovoked bites worldwide. This is lower than Florida's recent five-year annual average of 19 incidents per year.

ORLANDO, Fla.

– Florida is once again the No. 1 state in the U.S. for shark bites for 2023, according to the University of Florida and the Florida Museum. The museum's International Shark Attack File lists 69 unprovoked shark attacks worldwide last year — 16 of which happened in Florida.

While the risk of being attacked by a shark is extremely low, Florida, famous for its beaches and all-year-round sunshine, has consistently topped global charts for the number of shark bites.

A shark attack is an attack on a human by a shark. Every year, around 80 unprovoked attacks are reported worldwide. Despite their rarity, many people fear shark attacks after occasional serial attacks, such as the Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916, and horror fiction and films such as the Jaws series.

While the stories of these encounters cause many people to worry, the chances of being attacked by a shark are extremely low. In 2023, Florida had 16 unprovoked shark bite incidents reported, which represents 44% of the United States total and 23% worldwide, according to CNN.

Global total of unprovoked shark bites slightly higher than average. The 2023 worldwide total of 69 confirmed unprovoked cases is in line with the most recent five-year (2018-2022) average of 63 incidents annually. There were 14 confirmed shark-related fatalities this year, ten of which are assigned as unprovoked.

New Smyrna Beach, the "shark bite capital of the world," hands down, is the most dangerous beach in Florida for shark bites. Florida had 16 reported unprovoked shark bites in 2023, according to a study released by the Florida Program for Shark Research.

Florida is known as the "shark attack capital of the world" and accounts for more than half of the total shark attacks in the United States each year.

How rare are shark bites? ›

The odds of drowning in the ocean in the United States is about 1 in 3.5 million. The odds of experiencing a deadly shark bite is less than 1 in 264 million.

This pattern explains why shark activity is at its peak in Florida waters during April through October, which coincidentally, is also the time period that humans are more likely to be in the water.

Nonetheless, the white, tiger and bull sharks are the “Big Three” in the shark attack world because they are large species that are capable of inflicting serious injuries to a victim, are commonly found in areas where humans enter the water, and have teeth designed to shear rather than hold.

Volusia, Brevard counties top the list. Shark attacks are an incredibly rare event in Florida, though there are certain times and areas where they happen more often. Of the 26 counties on the list, Volusia County leads the pack with 343 incidents, making it the “Shark Bite Capital of the World.”

Avoid being in the water during low light hours (dawn or dusk) and at night when many sharks are most active and feeding. Sharks have never been shown to be attracted to the smell of human blood, however, it may still be advisable to stay out of the water if bleeding from an open wound.

"Florida has long topped global charts for the number of shark bites, and 2023 was no different. Florida's 16 cases represent 44% of the U.S. total and 23% of unprovoked bites worldwide. This is lower than Florida's most recent five-year annual average of 19 incidents." None of the attacks in Florida were fatal.

India ranks second only to Indonesia in terms of the number of sharks caught each year, so this ban is a major victory for ever-dwindling shark populations. Approximately 100 million sharks are killed each year in fishing operations, primarily to support the demand for shark fin soup.

Hit the shark in the face and gills.

Your best bet, if attacked, is to make the shark see you as a strong, credible threat. Usually, a hard blow to the shark's gills, eyes or snout (end of its nose) will cause it to retreat. These are really the only vulnerable areas on a shark.

New Smyrna Beach, the "shark bite capital of the world," hands down, is the most dangerous beach in Florida for shark bites. Florida had 16 reported unprovoked shark bites in 2023, according to a study released by the Florida Program for Shark Research.

Why are shark attacks increasing in Florida? ›

Naylor said that when warm weather brings more people into the water, the chance of attacks increases. Bait fish, which sharks feed on in the Florida area, also swim close to shore, raising the risk of a shark encounter, he said.

Florida is known as the "shark attack capital of the world" and accounts for more than half of the total shark attacks in the United States each year.