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Shark populations are falling -

Global shark and ray populations have declined by over 70% in 50 years. Overfishing is the cause their decline.

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Shark attacks are on the rise -

In 2023, the number of unprovoked shark attacks increased worldwide, with over half of them occurring in US waters. 

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Odds of a shark attack -

The odds of getting bitten by a shark are one in 3.75 million. You have a higher chance of getting struck by lightning, which has a one in 15,300 chance.

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Are sharks the deadliest animal? -

While most people think sharks are dangerous, indiscriminate killers, they aren't the deadliest animal in the world. It is, in fact, the mosquito that kills more people than any other creature in the world.

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Tamayo Perry -

In June 2024, Tamayo Perry, a professional surfer who also starred in 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' (2011) and 'Blue Crush' (2002), died in a shark attack while surfing in Hawaii. 

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Sennen Cove, United Kingdom -

Sennen Cove, a 1-mile (1.6-km) stretch of beach in West Cornwall, is famous for sightings of basking sharks. While they don't attack people, their rough skin is known to injure divers.

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New Smyrna Beach, Florida -

New Smyrna Beach, Florida, is known as the shark capital of the world. Eight shark attacks happened on the beach in 2023, and there have been 351 unprovoked shark bites recorded since 1882.

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Byron Bay, Australia -

Byron Bay is the official shark attack capital of Australia. The number of attacks has increased since 1990, from 12 to 15 per year. Over the previous 30 years, fatal and nonfatal shark attacks in New South Wales have increased by 1,500%.

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Byron Bay, Australia -

Byron Bay is popular with sharks due to the year-round warm waters and abundance of fish.

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Makena Beach, Maui -

Makena Beach is a tiger shark hotspot. There have been 73 unprovoked attacks since 1882, making it the Hawaiian island with the most shark attacks.

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Folly Beach, South Carolina -

There have been 40 recorded attacks on South Carolina beaches, with Folly Beach being the most likely place to be attacked by a shark.

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Folly Beach, South Carolina -

Folly Beach is one of the most popular beaches in South Carolina, drawing large crowds to the water. Many people also fish from the pier, which brings sharks closer to the shore. 

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Cocoa Beach, Florida -

Cocoa Beach attracts beachgoers year-round, increasing the likelihood of interactions with sharks. There have been 158 recorded shark attacks at this location.

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Cocoa Beach -

Cocoa Beach has a danger score of 7.57 out of 10, making it the second most dangerous beach in the world.

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Waikiki Beach, Oahu -

There have been a total of 42 recorded attacks on Waikiki Beach. In March 2024, an 8-foot (2.4-meter) shark appeared from below and took a bite out of a surfer's surfboard; luckily, the man was unharmed.

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Ethel Beach, Australia -

In December 2023, a 15-year-old surfer was fatally attacked by a great white shark. This marked the third fatal attack in the region that year.

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Boa Viagem Beach, Brazil -

Before 1992, there were no shark attacks reported on Boa Viagem Beach. However, the construction of Port Suape in Recife has impacted the behavior of the sharks, and the beach is now a hunting ground. Between 1992 and 2012, there were 56 attacks, 21 of which resulted in death.

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Surf Beach, California -

Surf Beach in Santa Barbara has the highest recorded shark attacks in California. Since 2008, there have been four attacks, including two fatal great white shark attacks.

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Second Beach, South Africa -

Second Beach in Port St. Johns, South Africa, is one of the most dangerous beaches in the world for shark attacks. Between 2007 and 2014, there were eight fatal shark attacks reported in the area.

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Plage de l’Hermitage, La Réunion -

There have been 56 total shark attacks in Plage de l’Hermitage since 1913. The number of attacks is increasing yearly due to an influx of surfers visiting the island for its perfect waves.

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Zihuatanejo Beach, Mexico -

While shark attacks in this region are not common, when they do happen, they are serious. A 76-year-old man was fatally attacked by a shark in the Zihuatanejo area in December 2023.

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Tiger Beach, Bahamas -

Tiger Beach is famous for its tiger sharks, which attract scuba divers from all over the world. In 2023, nine fatal attacks took place in the waters of this beach.

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Papua New Guinea -

Papua New Guinea has seen 48 shark attacks since 1848. Experts are unclear if the attacks stem from divers and other tourists or if the attacks are due to the local habit of fishing for sharks.

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Daytona Beach, Florida -

In Florida's Volusia County, home to Daytona Beach, between 2 pm and 3 pm on a September afternoon is the prime time for a shark bite. It's often referred to as the shark bite capital of the world. Florida has seen 259 unprovoked bites overall.

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Brunswick County, North Carolina -

North Carolina's coastal waters are part of an important migration route for marine species, meaning sharks pass through this area, leading to 17 attacks since 1935.

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Bondi Beach, Australia -

Australia has seen 139 shark bites since 2007 and 15 of them have been fatal. Most of the attacks have taken place off the coast of New South Wales, the state where Bondi Beach is located. 

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Playa Bancón, Lake Nicaragua, Nicaragua -

Lake Nicaragua is one of the only shark-infested lakes in the world. It is home to aggressive bull sharks that have caused three fatal attacks.

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San Diego, California -

San Diego is a shark bite hotspot in California, with 20 confirmed unprovoked shark attacks since 1926. 

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Gansbaai, South Africa -

Great white sharks frequent the Gansbaai coastline to hunt the Cape fur seals. The area has experienced several attacks, most notably a fatal attack on Nkosinathi Mayaba in January 2009.

Sources: (CNN) (Reader's Digest)

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