How common (or rare) shark attacks really are – and what to look for

It’s summer in the Northern Hemisphere and the holiday season has begun. Reports of shark attacks are also on the rise: a Netflix crew is attacked by tiger sharks off a Hawaiian island, in Spain swimmers have to flee the water for a blue shark and in Hurghada an attack by a tiger shark ends fatally for a Russian tourist .

Whether there is an attack or not – the incidents are picked up in the media. After all, such reports fuel people’s primal fear of a shark attack and are therefore a click guarantee. The idea of ​​suddenly being attacked from below by a huge animal with sharp teeth is the ultimate horror for many. In the water we are practically defenseless, unable to run away or defend ourselves.

However, fueling individual cases can create a selective perception and make us humans feel that sharks are a real danger to us. Shark attacks are relatively rare.

From 2010 to 2022, there were an average of 75 cases per year of humans being attacked by sharks without being provoked. At least those are the incidents reported to researchers at the renowned International Shark Attack File (ISAF) in Florida.

In 2022, they counted 57 such unprovoked shark attacks, significantly less than the year before, when 73 attacks were reported. The ISAF does not yet provide figures for this year. According to the Global Shark Attack File, there have been 19 unprovoked shark attacks so far in 2023.

In general, the researchers have noticed an increasing number of attacks worldwide since the early 1990s, which they explain as follows: Population growth and prosperity are increasing, and with them the number of people who spend time on and in the water. This in turn increases the chance of shark encounters. The fact that the number of attacks has declined slightly in recent years is thought to be due to the documented global decline in shark populations.

Of the approximately 1,000 shark attacks since 2010, just under 9 percent have ended fatally. That seems like a lot at first. However, calculations of the likelihood of one day being attacked and killed by a shark paint a more reassuring picture: According to ISAF, the risk in the US is about 1 in 4.3 million and therefore significantly lower than other possible causes of death .

Shark attacks are most common in the US, with more than half of recorded shark attacks coming from the "land of opportunity". The hotspots for shark attacks are the states of California and Florida, whose beaches are frequented almost year-round and water sports are practiced.

Australia has been in second place for years, followed by South Africa, Brazil and New Zealand. Shark attacks are also common around Hawaii and the French volcanic island of La Reunion. Shark attacks are relatively rare in Egypt, but the holiday destination popular with Europeans in late autumn has had three deaths from shark attacks in the past 14 months.

Occasional shark incidents also happen in the Mediterranean Sea, which is home to 41 different species of sharks. But not too often: According to ISAF, there have been only four recorded shark attacks since the turn of the millennium, all with no fatalities.

The vast majority of incidents occur between humans and great white sharks. It owes its reputation as a vicious "man-eater" not only to this fact, but mainly to the 1975 Steven Spielberg movie "Jaws." "Great white sharks actually spend most of their time in the open ocean," explains Marie out. Levine, general manager of the Global Shark Attack File. "But when they get close to the coast, they are very curious, which is why incidents often occur."

Behind the great white shark are two other representatives of the so-called Big Three: the tiger shark and the bull shark. Tiger sharks are also very curious, Levine adds. They actually feed on carrion, turtles and detritus, but can bite a human due to their sense of exploration. According to Levine, bull sharks are not only found in the open sea, but also in river deltas. There they often lurk in the murky waters, which is why there are always incidents with people.

The list of casualties is led by surfers and other surface water sports enthusiasts. Only then do swimmers, snorkelers and divers follow. According to researchers, the fact that surfers are more often the victim of attacks is mainly because they stay in the surf for a long time. Right in the zone that sharks visit again and again.

Humans don't really belong in the prey pattern of sharks. When attacked, they usually just bite off a "piece" of the human and then realize their mistake. A shark attack would often not necessarily be fatal. The big problem with an attack, even if it is only a "test bite", is the high blood loss before first aid can be given.

Shark researchers recommend always swimming in pairs, staying close to shore, and not entering the water at dusk. You should also avoid going near schools of fish or places where people fish. Jewelry and wild splashing in the water can also attract the attention of sharks. Also, unlike a bear attack, don't play dead if you're attacked by a shark.

Paddling or swimming away in panic, however, reminds the shark too much of the behavior of a prey animal. Therefore, if possible, you should only paddle with your feet and limit noise as drastically as possible. You must turn your body towards the shark and follow it with your eyes - even if you are surrounded. If the animal approaches you, you should try to touch the sensitive snout or gills with your hands. It is important not to bend your upper body forward as the shark could classify this as an attack.