Shark attacks were down worldwide last year, study says. What about in the Carolinas?
Shark attacks were down worldwide in 2019, a study found, but beachgoers in the Carolinas may still want to be careful when going into the water.
The International Shark Attack File at the University of Florida released its yearly worldwide shark attack summary on Tuesday and found that there were 64 unprovoked attacks in the world in 2019, which is four less than in 2018.
It’s also significantly less than the five-year average of 82 annual attacks, researchers found.
The United States led the world in the number of unprovoked attacks in 2019, with 41 cases — 64 percent of the worldwide total — the study says.
An unprovoked attack is when a shark attacks a “live human” in its natural habitat without being provoked, the study says.
There were only two fatal attacks in the world in 2019, none of which were in the United States, the study says.
The Carolinas were both among the nine places in the country that saw an attack in 2019.
North Carolina had three attacks over the year, tying it for the third-most in the country along with California, the study says. North Carolina also had three in 2018.
South Carolina had one attack, researchers say, which is a decrease from three in 2018.
Florida had the most attacks in the country, with 21 cases last year, the study says.
Other U.S. places where someone was attacked by a shark in 2019 include Hawaii, Georgia, Oregon, Rhode Island the Virgin Islands, according to the report.
The Carolinas are among the places worldwide that have highest number of shark attacks, according to the International Shark Attack File.
Since 2010, there have been 46 shark attacks in South Carolina and 34 in North Carolina, researchers say. But none of those have been fatal.
Fatal attacks have been declining worldwide for decades, the study says. This reflects “advances in beach safety, medical treatment, and public awareness.”
There’s an average of only four fatalities worldwide each year from unprovoked shark attacks.
And the number of attacks is “extremely low” considering how many people get in the water, researchers say.
Additionally, sharks are vital to “ocean health,” researchers say.
But the population is in decline due to “overfishing” and loss of habitat. Fisheries remove about 100 million sharks and rays every year, the study says.
How to avoid a shark attack
Although the chances of being attacked by a shark are slim, there are things you can do to prevent them. Experts with the International Shark Attack file recommend:
- swimming with someone;
- staying close to the shore;
- avoiding swimming at dusk or dawn;
- staying away from schools of fish or people fishing;
- and avoiding wearing jewelry or splashing a lot.
It’s also important to not get in the water when you’re bleeding as sharks have a good sense of smell, experts say. Avoiding wearing bright colors in the water is also helpful.
If you are attacked by a shark, hitting its nose repeatedly may get it to stop temporarily. Clawing at a shark’s eyes and gills is also effective as these are two sensitive areas.
This story was originally published January 22, 2020 at 12:58 PM.
