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Bull sharks live in shallow waters and occasionally attack humans.
Leonardo Gonzalez/Shutterstock
Shark bites and deaths will increase globally in 2023, with Australia recording the highest number of deaths, with surfers being the biggest victims.
The University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File (ISAF) investigated 120 “alleged shark-human interactions” around the world in 2023. These included nine “boat bites” and injuries at public aquariums.
Of the 120 incidents that occurred around the world, 69 were confirmed to be unprovoked bites of humans when the shark was in shark habitat and unprovoked. This number was up from his 57 cases in 2002.
A further 22 attacks were triggered, defined as “a human initiating an interaction with a shark in any way.” These include scenes of people feeding sharks, touching sharks, and attempting to free sharks from fishing nets. The rest were either scavenged bodies or their circumstances were not confirmed.
Globally, 10 people will die from unprovoked shark attacks in 2023, double the number in 2022. 42% of shark bite victims worldwide were surfers and 39% were swimmers.
Four of the deaths occurred in Australia, three of which were attributed to great white sharks (carcharodon carcharius) attack the surfer.
Gavin Naylor of the University of Florida said the number of unprovoked bites around the world is in line with the five-year average. “But the rise in the number of unwarranted deaths is a bit worrying, especially in Australia,” he says. “We will continue to monitor incidents related to nearby surfing spots.” [great] A collection of great white sharks. ”
The report comes a week after a woman was seriously injured when a bull shark bit her on the leg while swimming in one of Sydney Harbour’s busiest areas at dusk.Porgy whale).
Phoebe Meagher from Sydney’s Taronga Zoo helps manage Australia’s shark incident database and works closely with researchers in Florida.
He said on average over the life of the database, which goes back to 1791, Australia recorded just one death a year, a significant increase of four deaths in 2023. .
The last time Australia had no deaths was in 2019, but Meagher doesn’t think the trend has changed significantly. “An increase in deaths does not mean an increase in bites,” she says.
She attributes the rise in deaths in 2023 to bad luck, with deaths more likely if attacks occur far from the coast or far from hospitals, for example. .
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