- A recent report from the International Shark Attack File reveals a surge in deadly shark attacks worldwide in 2023, with Australia experiencing a disproportionately high number of fatalities.
- The overall number of fatal incidents doubled from the previous year, while non-fatal global shark attacks increased compared to the previous year.
- Australia accounted for 22% of unprovoked shark attacks in 2023, with 40% of these attacks resulting in death. Surfers face the highest risk of fatal shark attacks.
Additional Coverage:
A recent report from the International Shark Attack File reveals a surge in deadly shark attacks across the globe in 2023, with Australia experiencing a disproportionately high number of fatalities. Although the overall number of fatal incidents remains relatively low, it was double the previous year’s total. Additionally, there was an increase in non-fatal global shark attacks compared to the previous year. In total, there were 69 confirmed shark attacks worldwide, slightly higher than the previous five-year average of 63 attacks.
Gavin Naylor, the director of the Florida Museum of Natural History’s shark research program, commented on the report, stating that while the number of bites falls within the normal range, the increase in fatalities is concerning. The report can be accessed online for further information and data.
The International Shark Attack File determines the number of fatal and non-fatal attacks by documenting “unprovoked” bites on humans. These incidents occur in the shark’s natural habitat with no provocation from humans. Australia accounted for 22% of the world’s unprovoked shark attacks in 2023. However, it accounted for 40% of the unprovoked attacks that resulted in death. Australia experienced a total of 15 unprovoked attacks, with four being fatal, three of which occurred at the same remote beach off the Eyre Peninsula. Australian surfers typically face the highest risk of fatal shark attacks.
Outside of Australia, two deadly shark attacks occurred in the United States, while the Bahamas, Egypt, Mexico, and New Caledonia each reported one. In Mexico, a young fisherman was killed in a shark attack while diving for scallops off the Pacific Coast. Non-fatal shark bites were reported in various countries, including Costa Rica, Colombia, Brazil, the Seychelles, Turks and Caicos, Ecuador, South Africa, and the United States. The U.S. recorded the highest number of bites, with 36 in total. Almost half of these attacks occurred in Florida, but Hawaii and California also experienced fatal shark attacks.
Shark attacks that do not meet the criteria for “unprovoked” are classified as “provoked.” These attacks occur when a human initiates interaction with a shark in some way, such as harassing or attempting to touch the shark. Of the 120 interactions between sharks and humans investigated in 2023, researchers confirmed 22 provoked bites in addition to the 69 unprovoked bites. Four of the provoked attacks were deadly. Other cases involved “boat bites,” where sharks bit a marine vessel, and “scavenge” incidents, where sharks bit a deceased human. Some cases remained unconfirmed due to insufficient evidence or because the injuries could not be clearly attributed to a shark bite.
The report emphasizes that the risk of being bitten by a shark remains extremely low. Surfers and individuals participating in board sports were the most common targets of shark attacks in 2023, followed by swimmers and waders, and finally snorkelers and free divers.