U.S. Had World’s Largest Number of Unprovoked Shark Attacks in 2018, One Fatal Incident

U.S. had most unprovoked shark attacks in 2018 with 32 confirmed cases

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The U.S. had the largest number of unprovoked attacks, with one fatal incident in 2018.

Consistent with long-term trends, the United States experienced the most unprovoked shark attacks in 2018 with 32 confirmed cases.

This is markedly lower than the 53 incidents that occurred in the U.S. in 2017. The 32 cases represent 48% of the worldwide total.

This is a decline from 2017, which saw 60% of the worldwide unprovoked attacks in U.S. Only one shark attack in the United States resulted in a fatality.

Australia’s total of 20 unprovoked incidents was slightly higher than the recent five-year annual average of 14 incidents for the region.

Locality–Total–Fatal

USA–32–1
Australia–20–1
Bahama Islands–1–0
Brazil–3–1
Costa Rica–1–0
Egypt–3–1
Galapagos Islands–1–0
New Caledonia–1–0
New Zealand–1–0
Republic of South Africa–2–0
Thailand–1–0
WORLDWIDE–66–4

Nine attacks occurred in New South Wales, eight in Western Australia, two in Queensland and a single case in Victoria. One attack resulted in a fatality in Queensland. Australia averages two fatal incidents annually.

South Africa experienced two, non-fatal attacks in 2018, which is lower than its annual average of four total shark attacks and one fatality. However, four remaining unclassified attacks from South Africa are still under investigation.

Elsewhere in the world, shark attacks occurred in Egypt [3] and Brazil [3], each with one fatal incident in 2018. Single incidents occurred in the Bahama Islands, Costa Rica, the Galapagos Islands, New Caledonia, New Zealand and Thailand.

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