Shark Attacks

Myth and reality: the truth about shark attacks

Did you Know?  More people are killed every year by dogs, bees, lightning and lions than by sharks.

Of the over 450 species of shark, very few are considered to be potentially dangerous to man. Incidents of people being bitten by sharks are extremely rare – yet ignorance and sensationalism has caused the JAWS myth to be widely perceived as reality.

This section provides accurate information about shark incidents, risk, occurrence, avoidance and information on where to find the most up to date information. 

It is often difficult to identify the shark species involved in incidents, and in some cases the wrong species is blamed. The size and shape of the wound gives some indication of the species and the size of the shark involved however it is often difficult to say with any degree of certainty.
 
Three shark species; the Great White, Tiger, and Bull Sharks, are most frequently associated with serious incidents yet numerous other varieties of shark will potentially bite accidentally if they are molested or feel threatened.

Most negative shark/human incidents occur in coastal areas: in shallow, murky waters where sharks are hunting, such as at river mouths and off beaches, as well as in places where the seabed drops away into deeper water. According to records, the majority of incidents occur in waters above 12ºC, with 80% of shark incidents occurring in the tropics and subtropics.

There have been no unprovoked attacks on water users in British waters since records began in 1847, however two fishermen received bites whilst removing hooks from the mouths of sharks they had caught.


Statistics & Victims
Incidents & Motives
How to reduce the chances of an unwelcome encounter with a shark
Sharks In Danger 
Further Reading