Bondi Beach, Australia There have been 139 shark bites since 2007, 15 of them fatal, according to the ISAF. 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.
New Smyrna Beach has seen more shark attacks than any other beach in the United States. The International Shark Attack File estimates that Florida has the most shark attacks worldwide each year. The location of New Smyrna Beach in Volusia County is where a disproportionate amount of them take place.
Unfortunately, Byron-Ballina is the official shark-attack capital of Australia, and the number of attacks has increased since 1990, from 12 to 15.
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.”
Only swim at patrolled beaches (a beach where there are lifeguards on duty) and always swim between the red and yellow flags where lifeguards can see you. Many Australian beaches have 'rips'. These are strong underwater currents that can be hard to spot but which can draw you away from the shore quickly.
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.
Types of Sharks in Sydney Harbour
The Big Three sharks, the great white, bull sharks, and tiger sharks are rarely seen in Sydney Harbour.
While Australia's oceans are home to the three species responsible for the most shark bites, including the white, tiger and bull shark, experts warn that rising water temperatures from climate change will likely impact their distribution.
Australia has the highest number of fatal shark attacks in the world, with Western Australia recently becoming the deadliest place in the world for shark attacks with total and fatal shark bites growing exponentially over the last 40 years.
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.
In the two years of 2020 and 2021 there were 11 fatal shark attacks in Australia.
Bondi Beach, Australia
There have been 139 shark bites since 2007, 15 of them fatal, according to the ISAF. Most of the attacks have taken place off the coast of New South Wales, the state where Bondi Beach is located.
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.
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!
When we think of Australian beaches, sharks often come to mind. On average one fatal attack is reported each year, but in the same period we averaged 122 coastal drowning deaths, with 25 per cent due to dangerous rip currents. Knowing where and when to swim is the best defence against these beach hazards.
Shark encounters are on the increase and can occur at any time of the year, however, the peak period is between November and April. Australia is known for its beach culture.
Chance of shark encounter 'very unlikely'
"If we were to look broadly at the 12,000 beaches that we have around Australia we know that sharks are in all our waters, but for the most part they go largely unseen, and won't pose any threat or danger to people."
As a general precaution, swimming in Sydney Harbour should be avoided for up to three days following rainfall or for as long as stormwater is present. * Please note water temperature in estuarine areas can be warmer in summer and cooler in winter than the reported ocean temperature.
There are no crocodiles in Sydney, Australia.
Rest assured, you can still see some incredible sharks and rays at SEA LIFE Melbourne! You can find Port Jackson sharks and fiddler rays in Bay of Rays and a range of carpet sharks in Coral Atoll.
Great white sharks have been reported in the UK since 1965 and the Shark Trust states that there have been over 100 credible sightings of great white sharks in the last 10 years. But why has there yet to have been a confirmed sighting?
The great white shark is an apex predator, as it has no known natural predators other than, on very rare occasions, the orca.