Australia averages around 20 injurious shark incidents annually, with roughly 2-3 fatalities, though numbers vary yearly, with 2023 seeing 4 deaths; data shows a gradual increase over decades, with New South Wales and Queensland seeing the most activity, mostly involving great white, tiger, and bull sharks.
Australia reported the second-highest number of total shark related incidents, with the annual average increasing from nine bites per year between 1990 and 2000 to 22 bites per year from 2010 to 2020.
Where Are the Most Shark Attacks in the U.S.? The most shark attacks are in the state of Florida, and the majority of those attacks occur in Volusia County, which has the most shark attacks ever recorded, at 343. Brevard County, Florida, was the county with the second-most ever recorded, with 156 shark attacks.
They are believed to be Swiss tourists. Emergency services have credited a bystander with saving the man's life. This incident brings the number of reported shark attacks in Australia in 2025 to 20, with this incident marking the fifth fatality.
Although the average number of shark incidents has increased in Australia over recent decades – during the 1990s the national average was 6.5 unprovoked incidents per year but this has risen to 12.5 in the early 2000s [3], the risk of human injury or death from a shark encounter is still very low.
Shark attacks are very rare, and many beaches have shark nets to deter sharks. However, it's always smart to avoiding swimming at dusk, in river mouths and a long way offshore. This will help to further reduce risk. The safest place is always between the red and yellow flags.
If a shark charges, fight back
“That happens nine times out of 10.” If that does not work, and a shark tries to bite a swimmer—or even has a limb in its mouth—Naylor says the best course of action is to poke the shark hard in the eyes.
To tell if a shark is near, watch for nature's signs like diving birds or agitated fish, notice unusual shadows or fins, and be aware of areas with fishing activity, but most importantly, listen to lifeguard warnings, avoid murky water, and observe sharks' behavior for signs of excitement or erratic movements, indicating you should calmly leave the water.
The most dangerous sharks in Australia, responsible for the majority of attacks, are the Great White, Tiger Shark, and Bull Shark, with the Bull Shark often cited as the most dangerous due to its aggressive nature, wide habitat (including freshwater rivers), and tendency to frequent shallow, populated coastal areas where humans swim. The Tiger Shark is also highly dangerous due to its large size and indiscriminate diet, while the Great White is notorious for its power and frequency in attacks.
Tamayo Perry was fatally attacked by a shark on June 23, 2024, while surfing near Goat Island off Oahu's North Shore, sustaining multiple bites, including severe injuries to his arm and leg, after which fellow surfers brought him to shore, where he was pronounced dead by paramedics. He was on a break from his job as a lifeguard when the incident occurred, and officials later posted shark warnings in the area.
Electric repellents create an electromagnetic field to deter shark attacks and are used by surfers, scuba divers, snorkelers, spearfishers, ocean kayak fishers, swimming areas off boats and for ocean fishing.
The Great White Shark is considered the "#1 deadliest" due to having the most recorded unprovoked attacks and fatalities, followed closely by the Tiger Shark and Bull Shark, which are also highly dangerous due to their presence in coastal areas and opportunistic feeding habits. While Great Whites are powerful apex predators, Bull Sharks are known for their aggression and ability to live in both saltwater and freshwater, making encounters more likely.
The odds of being attacked by a shark in the U.S. are approximately 1 in 11.5 million with the odds of a fatal shark attack being even lower at about 1 in 264.1 million.
While sharks don't see in colour, contrast can still play a role in how visible you are, especially in different lighting conditions. Some studies suggest that darker wetsuits can make you more visible against a bright surface when viewed from below, but this does not necessarily increase the risk of attack.
Sharks are found all around Australia, but hotspots for diversity and activity include the Coral Sea (Queensland) for biodiversity, Western Australia's South West (Geraldton to Victoria) for great whites, and the NSW/QLD coastlines (like Byron Bay/Ballina) for higher shark attack numbers, often linked to bull sharks and river mouths. Major populations of great whites are concentrated in WA's waters, while the warm Coral Sea teems with many species.
There were 7 confirmed shark-related fatalities last year, four of which are assigned as unprovoked. This number is in line with the five-year annual global average of six unprovoked fatalities per year. Annual fluctuations in shark-human interactions are always expected.
Remains of megalodon fossils have been found across Europe, Africa, the United States of America and Australia, suggesting that the species occupied all of the oceans, except for polar areas.
Beaches patrolled by lifeguards are the safest to swim. Look for the red and yellow flags. If you don't see any red or yellow flags, there aren't any lifeguards on duty. This means you should avoid swimming at these beaches.
Since 2000 there have been 59 fatal shark attacks in Australia. Including 23 incidents since 2020.
Sharks can detect odors and they do have a strong sense of smell. Taronga zoo in Australia states that,"[…] Sharks may be attracted to one person to the exclusion of others because the person is bleeding, has urinated in the water, or simply because the person emits a stronger body odor or electromagnetic field."
Instead of swimming away: stand your ground, face the shark, make eye contact, extend your fins out if you can to ask for space, and if you absolutely need to then push firmly down on the top of the shark's head to guide them away from you, making sure to follow through as they swim away.
First, don't try to swim away. You can't outswim a shark, and if it's curious (which it probably will be if you're splashing around), it'll just catch up with you from behind. So turn and face it. Maintain eye contact.
Shark repellent refers to methods or devices designed to keep sharks away from an area, using magnetic fields, electric pulses, or strong smells (like dead shark extract) to disrupt their senses, with Sharkbanz (magnets) and electric deterrents (like RPELA) being popular personal options, while in business, "shark repellent" also means tactics companies use to fend off hostile takeovers, like golden parachutes. Both marine and business applications aim to deter unwanted approaches, though effectiveness varies and is often debated.
If the shark is in attack mode try to fend off with your spear or hand at the end of the nose where the shark is most sensitive. Strike at the eyes or gills until the shark releases you or turns away. Exit the water as safely as you can with the aid of others, Seek emergency first aid.
Shark repellent bracelets offer limited, close-range protection, with scientific studies showing most magnetic bracelets like Sharkbanz have little to no measurable effect on large sharks, while some electronic deterrents (like Ocean Guardian) can deter sharks at a short distance, but no device guarantees safety and they shouldn't replace common-sense practices. Effectiveness varies greatly by device and shark species, with larger sharks being harder to deter.