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Sharks! What's the Big Deal? Florida Today Tells All

Shark Week at Florida Today-find out more at Florida today.com or in your local newspaper.

SHARK ATTACK FACTS

  • 93% of shark attacks from 1580 to 2010 worldwide were on males.

 

  • In 2010, North American Waters had 42% of all confirmed unprovoked attacks worldwide (32 attacks).

 

  • Surfers accounted for 50.8% of all attacks in 2010.

 

  • Swimmers and Waders accounted for 38% of all attacks in 2010.

 

  • Snorkelers and divers accounted for 8% of all attacks in 2010.

 

  • Inflatable rafts/inner tubes accounted for 3% of attacks in 2010.

 

  • 2010 was the most dangerous year for unprovoked shark attacks in a decade with 79.

 

  • Over the last half-century, there have been more unprovoked shark attacks in Florida (27 out of a total 139) between 2-3 pm than any other time of the day.

 

  • New Smyrna Beach in Florida is the shark attack capital of the world according to ISAF. It is estimated that anyone who has swam there has been within 10ft of a shark.

 

  • September is the month with the most Shark attacks in Florida (93) 1920-2010.

 

  • Since 1907 201 out 220 Great White Attacks have occurred when the human was less than 6ft from the surface.

 

  • You have a 1 in 63 chance of dying from the flu and a 1 in 3,700,000 chance of being killed by a shark during your lifetime.

 

  • Over 17,000 people die from falls each year. That’s a 1 in 218 chance over your lifetime, compared to a 1 in 3,700,000 chance of being killed by a shark.

 

  • In 1996, toilets injured 43,000 Americans a year. Sharks injured 13.

 

  • 1n 1996, buckets and pails injured almost 11,000 Americans. Sharks injured 13.

 

  • In 1996, 2600 Americans were injured by room fresheners. Sharks injured 13.

 

  • The US averages just 19 shark attacks each year and one shark-attack fatality every two years. Meanwhile, in the coastal U.S. states alone, lightning strikes and kills more than 37 people each year. 

 

  • Since 1959, Florida has had more shark attacks (603) than lightning fatalities (459).

 

  • Since 1959, California has had more shark attacks than lightning fatalities (89/30).

 

  • Since 1959, Hawaii has had 97 Shark attacks but no lightning fatalities.

 

  • Only 5 people die from shark attacks yearly, while millions of people die from starvation.

 

  • For SAEL: Since 1905, Natal (where Durban is) has had 89 shark attacks and 27 fatalities.

 

  • For every human killed by a shark, humans kill approximately two million sharks.

 

  • Most shark attacks occur less than 100 feet from the shore mainly around popular beaches in North America (especially Florida and Hawaii), Australia, and South Africa

 

  • In 2008 a Polar bear Jaw was found in a Greenland Shark’s stomach.

 

  • A whale shark can filter 1.5 million litres (400,000 gallons) of water an hour when feeding. That’s enough to supply 1,000 US homes for a day.

Terri Wright held the position of General Manager at WFIT from 1998-2023.