Shark Attacks! How Common are They? Where do They Occur?

Navigation: Main page » Outdoors

 Print this page Submit articleComment article

Author: B. Williams

Article source: http://travel-hints.info/. Used with author's permission.

Last week in Australia, one man's day at beach could have turned into a disaster: He was attacked by a seven-foot bronze whaler shark while surfing about 100 yards out from Sydney's Bronte Beach.

Fortunately, the man, Simon Letch, stayed calm and "shoved the board at [the shark] like a barge pole." After taking two bites of the fiberglass board, the shark swam away and Letch surfed back to shore.

"It was only about 10 or 15 seconds that I was waiting for a wave but it seemed like an eternity," Letch said.

You'd think that this Jaws-style attack would have kept Letch on land, at least for the rest of the day, but the lifeguard said he came back 30 minutes later, replacement board in hand, ready to surf.

Afraid to Get Back in the Water?

Just how likely are you to come across your own "Jaws" while wading in the surf or snorkeling with some Angel Fish?

According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), 1,909 confirmed shark attacks have occurred around the world-between 1580 and 2003! Of these, 737 happened in the United States, and 38 people died as a result. Hardly alarming numbers, but the actual number of shark attacks isn't really known because many areas keep them under wraps so tourism isn't affected.

Unprovoked shark attacks, the kind where a shark in its natural habitat attacks a (live) human without any apparent reason, do seem to be on the rise, though, say the researchers behind ISAF.

In 2004, there were 61 unprovoked shark attacks recorded worldwide (seven were fatal), up from 57 in 2003. Overall, this number has been growing for the past 100 years, and more people were attacked in the 1990s than in any other decade (and so far it seems that the current decade will break last decade's record).

***** Your odds of being attacked by a shark? 1 in 11.5 million, says the International Shark Attack File. Being killed by a shark? 0 in 264.1 million. Your risk of drowning, for comparison? 1 in 2 million. *****

Keep in mind, though, that if you're involved in a shark attack that's deemed "provoked," that attack will not be included in the tally. What constitutes a provoked shark attack or an attack that's not "unprovoked"? Those that involve:

* Sharks and divers in public aquaria or research holding pens

* "Scavenge damage" to already dead humans (typically drowning victims)

* Attacks on boats

* Attacks in which a human initiates contact with a shark (such as a diver grabbing a shark)

Why are shark attacks on the rise? It's less complicated than you may think … Say the researchers at ISAF, it's because humans are spending more time in the water.

Where Are Shark Attacks Most Common?

Though images of Great Whites gliding through Australia's Great Barrier Reef may come to mind, most shark attacks happen in North American waters. Within the United States, shark attacks happen most often in Florida and then in:

* California

* Texas

* Hawaii

* North Carolina

* Alabama, Oregon and South Carolina (tied)

Worldwide, after North American waters, the most shark attacks occur in:

* Australia

* Brazil

* South Africa

* Reunion Island (in the Indian Ocean)

* The Bahamas, Cuba, Egypt, Fiji, New Zealand and Venezuela (tied)

***** In the United States, you're more likely to be killed by a deer (through auto accidents), dog, snake or mountain lion than you are by a shark. *****

How to Prevent Shark Attacks

First and foremost, if you want to be sure a shark won't attack you … don't go in the ocean. Next on the list is, don't go in the water if you see a shark, and then don't go in if you're bleeding-sharks can detect even minute amounts of blood from very far away (this applies even to menstruating women). The Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology Department offers these other shark safety tips:

* Swim in groups-sharks are most likely to attack a person who's alone.

* Don't swim too far from shore (you're farther away from help and more isolated).

* Don't go in the water at night or during twilight hours when sharks are most active.

* Leave shiny jewelry at home-a shark could mistake it for shiny fish scales.

* Don't swim in areas used by commercial or sport fisherman where bait is used often (if there are diving seabirds around, it's likely this is the case).

* Don't swim if you have an uneven tan-sharks don't like tan lines! (seriously, the contrast could attract them).

* The same goes for bright colored clothing-sharks may be attracted to it.

* Don't splash excessively or swim with pets (who may thrash around and attract a shark).

* Be careful around steep drop-offs or when between sandbars (these are two areas sharks love).

What to do if a Shark Attacks

In the unlikely event that a shark does attack … swim … and fast. Seriously, if you see a shark the best thing to do is stay calm and swim quickly, but smoothly, back to the shore or surface.

If the shark actually attacks, you should first try to hit it on the tip of its nose (use whatever you have with you-a spear or camera if you're diving, a surfboard as Letch did, or your own fist). The shark should go away long enough for you to calmly, but quickly, swim away (Discomforting side note: If you can't get away, and the shark comes back, hitting it on the nose will become less and less effective).

If the shark bites and you're stuck in its mouth, be as aggressive as you can. Go for the sensitive areas of the eyes and gill openings and hit the shark, hard. Don't "play dead," as this won't help. As soon as the shark releases, get out of the water as quickly as you can (don't hang around because once there's blood in the water, the shark will likely come back to attack again).

Chances are very, very small of being attacked by a shark, though, so don't let Hollywood's version of a man-eating Jaws (or the disturbing images of the film "Open Water") keep you from enjoying the surf.

If it makes you feel any better, there are plenty of other things to worry about while you're at the beach that are more likely to happen than a shark attack … things like dehydration, jellyfish and stingray stings, cutting your foot on a seashell, sunburn, and sand getting wedged in private places, just to name a few.

------------

Sources

Seattle Post-Intelligencer April 19, 2005

International Shark Attack File

Sharks!

Borrowing on a Credit Card
One of the easiest ways to borrow money of a financial institute is to use a Credit Card, available from all banks, building societies, and other financial orga...

Carly Patterson: What Makes A Champion?
Carly Patterson, 2004 Olympic Gymnastics Gold Medallist bio

The Surrender of the Ego
A necessary step on the path to enlightenment is the surrender of the ego. When the ego is subjugated to the will of God, you become a spiritual powerhouse.

How A Golf Workout Routine Can Crush Your Competitors
A golf workout routine can be as simple as using a pair of hand weights (dumbbells), and doing 5-6 golf-specific exercises in less than 15 minutes. Now I know ...

The Subtle Secret Of Transformation
Great men and women succeed moment by moment, step by step, lifted up by one small victory after another, until they reach a lofty and impressive pinnacle of su...

Constructive Group Dynamics: How to Go from the S.N.I.P.P.Y. Syndrome to a C.L.E.A.R. V.I.E.W.
If asked to look at your work calendar for the week, the odds are pretty good that you have a few if not several meetings already scheduled. Now, if asked how y...

Directionals Move Properties
One of the most effective and frequently overlooked methods of filling or selling a property is the use of directional arrow signs. I'm guilty of it myself, alt...

Tips on Using Blogs in Your Home Business Website
Find out how to use blogs effectively to stimulate your home-based business.

We Are the Five People We Associate with Most
Last month I was invited to participate in a charity golf tournament in Las Vegas to celebrate the life of the late dancing legend Gregory Hines. The event was ...

Selling a House is Easy
The thought of selling a house strikes fear into most people. The contracts, the legalese, the exorbitant costs — they all conspire to make the experience unple...

Write It Down!
Taking notes on your conversation with another person is great if you want to remember what you said. Often a business card is too small to deal with all the de...

Preparation
Knowing who you are, your place in the world, what motivates you, and your capabilities are not sufficient to ensure that you are on the path to achieving your ...

Advice for Copywriters: How to Win the Freelance Bidding War
Smart companies know that quality work will cost them some money; and yes, they WILL pay for your expert services. Settle for nothing less than a respectable fe...

Credit Card Rewards to Suit Your Personality
There are credit cards for just about every walk-of-life, meaning; chances are, there's a credit card tailored to satisfy your individuality. Credit card issuer...

The Promotion Factor: Seven Strategies to Promote Yourself and Your Business by Playing Golf
• Observe the true character of the person while playing golf. They are more relaxed and open in this environment than at the office.

Unique Mothers Day Gift - No More Flowers and Chocolate
With Mother's Day quickly approaching, here's a great idea for anyone wanting to get their mom something more than a bouquet of flowers or box of chocolate - wi...

Gain Confidence By Avoiding The Trap Past Experiences Can Give You In Life
One of the biggest potential problems we face with every action we take are our past experiences. In fact, as humans the only reference we have whenever we tak...

Potty Training Reward System
A great potty training reward system. Hopefully this will make potty training a little easier and give incentive for the little boy or girl to potty train faste...

Why Tiger Woods Golf Swing Technique Is So Effective
Golf sensation Tiger Woods' golf swing technique has been the subject of many interesting studies.

What Puts The Super In Super Affiliate?
Ten strategies that have helped online affiliates become "super" affiliates.

Seven Keys To Closing More Sales During The Second Half Of 2006
How would you like to jump-start your sales effort during the second half of 2005? Here are 7 rock-solid selling ideas you can use to WOW your customers and de...

Sales Leads: 10 Sure Fire Ways To Unleash An Avalanche Of Sales
If you knew a few sure fire ideas that have helped me, you may unleash an avalanche of sales and make more money at your website.

How to Drive Traffic to Your Website with Traffic Exchanges
The number one problem new website owners have is, "How do I drive targeted traffic to my website?" Plenty of articles focus on PPC, PPV, link exchanges and so...

RSS And The Billion Channel Internet
The real potential of RSS lies in Broadcasting. Will the future version of RSS, presently only in its 'Model T' stage, provide a personal TV channel for every...