It's summer again, and with temperatures rising, so are the questions about shark "attacks." While these incidents are traumatic for the victims and their families, the odds of being bitten by a shark are still exceedingly rare. Reminders of the overall statistics can help us keep things in perspective. The best source for this type of information is the International Shark Attack File (ISAF). I happen to be at a meeting in Montreal with ISAF’s director, George Burgess.
On Saturday, Burgess informed a group of scientists of the shark attack totals for this year, so far: there have been 37 unprovoked shark bites around the world; four of these were fatal. Nineteen of these incidents (including one fatality) occurred in the U.S.
According to ISAF, there were 71 unprovoked shark attacks worldwide in 2007; only one of the victims died, marking a 20-year low in fatalities from shark bites. The mean number of annual deaths from unprovoked incidents from 2000 to 2007 was 5.0. Just a few of the 400-plus shark species are implicated in the most serious attacks: they are usually tiger, bull or white sharks. About half the world's shark attacks occur in U.S. waters, with one-third happening in Florida.
It is important to stress that humans are not part of any shark’s natural diet and attacks are usually the result of mistaken identity. As leading shark researcher Dr. Chris Lowe said a few years ago in USA Today, "If sharks were intent on people for food, Waikiki would be a buffet."
Overall, the number of shark-human interactions is generally trending upward and is correlated to the amount of time humans spend in the sea. As the human population and people’s interest in aquatic recreation grow, experts expect the number of shark interactions to increase.
George Burgess says, "It’s spectacular that hundreds of millions of people worldwide are spending hundreds of millions of hours in the ocean, doing things that are provocative to sharks, such as surfing, and yet there are so few deaths from shark attack. The danger of a shark attack stays in the forefront of our psyches, but in reality the chances of dying from one are infinitesimal."
To learn more about sharks, shark attack, and the ISAF, visit the Florida Museum of Natural History's shark research web site.
PHOTO: David Doubilet/National Geographic/Getty Images
Q&A With Sonja
Q: My favorite shark is the zebra shark. While at a SeaWorld camp, I was privileged to do a shark interaction with this amazing species. I went on a manatee expedition with Ocean Conservancy in February and was wondering if there was an opportunity to attend a shark expedition. I am very interested in sharks and would like to know of ways to help with their conservation. Thank you for your time, Michelle.
Posted by michelle, July 25, 2008
A: Thanks very much for your interest in sharks and support of Ocean Conservancy. I'm sorry that at the moment we have no plans for expeditions involving sharks, but it's a fine idea; we'll be sure to give it some thought.
Post your questions for Sonja in the Comments section below. She will be checking in to give you answers.
I know that sharks always attack people because of mistaken identity.
And i have a story of how my dads best friend was bit by a shark this year, on june 28, 2008
off of Manjack island in the bahamas.
Posted by: Kaz | July 29, 2008 at 03:41 AM
I was extremely sad to see all the hyped up shark attack shows as well as the extremely UN-scientific experiments done by Les Stroud last night. It is ridiculous and the worst thing this channel can do for shark conservation. I am a shark enthusiast, dive shop owner and scuba instructor so I spend ALL of my time and career attempting to UNDO what shark week and stupid movies have done to dramatisize shark attacks. So many people are afraid! Lets not make more!!!!!!!! Lets show them that shark attacks are SUPER rare, based on the mistaken identity analysis, and for Gods sake will someone televise that you have about the same chances of getting hit by lightening than bit by a shark instead of just putting this information on a blog!!
Posted by: Jamie | July 29, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Sharks are by far the most fascinating, wonderful creatures on earth. I watch each and every moment of Shark Week every year, and find the programs to be very informative, but also very sad. Sad due to the fact that we as humans do so much to destroy these animals, and not too much is ever heard about what can be done to prevent it.
Please pass on to EVERYONE any information you may have to help us save the sharks! I would be more than happy to donate my time or money to help in the fight for shark conservation.
Posted by: Scott | July 29, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Save the sharks they are in a special chain brake that chain and we will be braking many others..
I stumbled upon a site about shark repellents were magnets come into play , they are being tested on fishing lines to deter sharks and surfers and swimmers. There is a surf camp using this magnet technology on the surfers here in Florida being known as the shark bite capital.
Whats your take any knowledge on these magnets?
Posted by: Kim | July 29, 2008 at 08:53 PM
I recently got a chance to snorkel with a few sand tiger and sandbar sharks through the Swim with the Sharks adventure in Camden at the Adventure Aquarium. It was amazing to see them in the water up close and it really made you realize that they were only interested in me as a newly inserted object in their environment and they weren't coming up to me to bite me but to rather check me out and almost say hello. They swam up to me, turned away and went about their business. They were beautiful creatures. After doing that, I can only imagine how neat some of your experiences could be! Thanks for writing the blog and take care. ohhh wait, I agree with the previously mentioned entry. I was not fond of the one show on Shark Week a few days back with Les Stroud. It was too sensationalized and not very scientific. However, I LOVED last nights episode showing the Greenland Shark and Mike Rowe.
-Derek
Posted by: Derek | July 30, 2008 at 03:54 PM
I get so mad that anytime a shark attack occurs all the news media comment on the shark "infested" waters. Sharks are supposed to live in the ocean - it would be better to call the oceans "people" infested - is not this truly the problem?
Posted by: Amy | July 31, 2008 at 07:19 PM
What kind of wetsuits are being worn when swimming with great whites without the cage?
Posted by: Michael | September 19, 2008 at 11:26 PM
Based on the mistaken identity data I am looking for that was do back in the 1980s (I think itwas then) about a shark deterrent method that used a large bag to alter the profile of the human body to look like an amorphous blob which prevented shark attack because the perso did not look like dinner to the shark. Do you know anything about this research and can you direct me to where I can locate it.
Thanks.
Lee
Posted by: Lee | November 13, 2008 at 02:18 PM
I never knew the sharks in Florida could be so dangerous.
Fred Smilek
Email- Fred_Smilek@yahoo.com
Webpage- http://sites.google.com/site/fredjsmilek/
Fred Smilek is the acting president of the Society to Save Endangered Species. It was founded two years ago by Fred Smilek along with his two best friends Charles and Jonathan.
Posted by: Fred Smilek | January 21, 2009 at 03:21 PM
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Posted by: o be one | February 09, 2009 at 08:23 PM