Shark attacks increase worldwide after 3 years of decline

Washington, Jan 25 (Prensa Latina) The number of shark attacks increased around the world in 2021, with a total of 73 unprovoked incidents last year, following three consecutive years of decline, a specialized source revealed Tuesday.

January 25, 2022
19:28

The data, released by the American International Shark Attack File (ISAF) of the Florida Museum of Natural History, also included 39 attacks stimulated by people and nine deaths.

The International Shark Attack File manager, Tyler Bowling, pointed out that 52 bites in 2020 were the lowest documented in more than a decade. The 73 bites in 2021 more closely align with the five-year global average of 72.

“Shark bites dropped drastically in 2020 due to the pandemic.” Bowling said in a statement. “This past year was much more typical, with average bite numbers from an assortment of species and fatalities from white sharks, bull sharks and tiger sharks.”

Researchers saw a total of 11 shark-related fatalities last year, with nine considered unprovoked. Australia led the world with three unprovoked deaths, followed by New Caledonia with two. The United States, Brazil, New Zealand and South Africa each had a single unprovoked fatal shark attack.

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