In the United States, even considering only people who go to beaches, a person's chance of getting attacked by a shark is 1 in 11.5 million, and a person's chance of getting killed by a shark is less than 1 in 264.1 million.
Chances of shark bite survival also significantly increased when a person is undertaking an on water activity (such as surfing or kayaking), with 92% and 88% chance of survival for tiger and white sharks respectively, compared to 30% and 45% chance of survival during in water (such as swimming for SCUBA diving) ...
Your chance of being killed by a shark in Australia is less than 1 in 264.1 million.
Despite their scary reputation, sharks rarely ever attack humans and would much rather feed on fish and marine mammals. Only about a dozen of the more than 300 species of sharks have been involved in attacks on humans.
Bondi Beach, Australia
Most of the attacks have taken place off the coast of New South Wales, the state where Bondi Beach is located.
When and where do sharks attack? From 2021-2022, New South Wales and Western Australia were the most common states for human/shark interactions in Australia, with 14 cases within each state. This was followed by Queensland with 3 cases and Victoria with 2 cases.
Breaking down numbers: Where, and how many, attacks
Australia came second with nine unprovoked bites, down from 12 in 2021. There were five fatal unprovoked shark attacks worldwide; one in the USA off Hawaii, two in Egypt, and another two in South Africa. The report doesn't name the species responsible for attacks.
Of all 375 shark species, only 12 are considered potentially dangerous to humans. Sharks have a fearsome reputation for attacking humans in more or less warm and deep waters. Nevertheless, lightning strikes kill more people in the United States than sharks.
How Many Sharks Are Killed Every Year? An estimated 100 million sharks are killed per year throughout the world, a startlingly high number and one that is greater than the recovery rate of these populations.
Some sharks such as the nurse shark have spiracles that force water across their gills allowing for stationary rest. Sharks do not sleep like humans do, but instead have active and restful periods.
1. Great White Shark. Great white sharks are the most aggressive sharks in the world has recorded 333 attacks on humans, with 52 of them being fatal.
The USA and Australia are the most sharks infested countries in the world. Since the year 1580, a total of 682 shark attacks have killed more than 155 people in Australia. In the United States, 1,563 attacks have already caused over 35 deaths. Florida and California have been suffering more than any other US state.
Australia's Great White crisis: “Esperance is the sharkiest place in the world right now… these are big, big sharks…they're eating humans like seals. It feels like we're being hunted!” "If people knew how many people are bumped off boards, how many Whites we're seeing close to shore, they'd be shocked.”
Then head to Australia's westernmost point. Shark Bay — 800 kilometres north of Perth — became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991 for the natural splendour of its waters, islands and peninsulas, which provide a home to more than 300 species of marine animals, including 29 types of shark.
There have been 13 reported shark contact incidents at Bondi Beach since records began, one of which is known to have been a hoax. Of these incidents only two fatalities have occurred, a very low number given the large number of swimmers who regularly use Bondi Beach.
"For most parts of Australia, between September through to around December, we see an increase in fish migrating through our coastal waters, and therefore the likelihood of a shark encounter is increased because we obviously have sharks who are following fish for a feed."
RECORD SHARK Catch in Streaky Bay
Caught 22 kms out of Streaky Bay the shark tired and was gaffed after a 5 hour and 15 minute struggle. The massive shark caught on a 24 kg line weighed in at 1520 kgs and was more than 5m long. It is believed to be the biggest in the world caught on a 24 kg line – a world record!
White sharks occur in coastal, shelf, and continental slope waters around Australia from the Montebello Islands in north-western Western Australia, south around the coast to at least as far north as central Queensland including Tasmanian waters.
Is it OK to touch a shark? While it may be tempting, Julie Andersen of Shark Angels says that divers should resist the urge to touch sharks. Julie Andersen — one of Scuba Diving's 2012 Sea Heroes — is founder and executive director of Shark Angels, a U.S. nonproft dedicated to protection of sharks.
What does a shark attack feel like? While each survivor describes the experience differently, a common description from shark attack survivors is the attack feels similar to being punched or bumped. Some survivors have even recounted no pain at all!
Before you go in, watch for unusual fish activity, such as a whole bunch of small- and medium-sized fish jumping out of the water, Hammerschlag said. That's a possible sign a shark might be nearby.