• The probabilities of being attacked and killed by a shark are one in 3.75 million.
• The US and Australia constantly report essentially the most shark assaults annually.
• However your probabilities of dying from a shark assault are uncommon and decrease than dying by a lightning strike.

Shark assaults are one of the vital notoriously feared risks to beach-going people — however how probably is it that you just’d truly get bitten?

Regardless of the mass concern surrounding the lethal animals, the probabilities of being attacked and killed by a shark are one in 3.75 million, based on the Worldwide Wildlife Museum.

The possibilities are decrease than the potential of dying by a lightning strike, a firework accident, or a stroke.

Within the wake of a shark assault over the weekend in Stone Harbor, New Jersey, we have examined the information behind shark assaults within the US and worldwide.

The US has recorded over 1,500 shark assaults within the final 185 years

Since 1837 there have been 1,596 recorded unprovoked shark assaults within the US, based on information obtained by the College of Florida’s Worldwide Shark Assault File.

The commonest place to be attacked within the US is Florida, with 912 assaults since 1837.

Hawaii, California, and South Carolina have all had between 100 and 200 assaults in that timeframe.

It seems that final weekend’s assault in Stone Harbor was unusual, with solely 15 assaults recorded in New Jersey since 1837.

The teenage lady who was attacked was within the water when a shark bit her foot. She survived and was strolling round on crutches shortly after getting stitches at Cape Regional Medical Heart, CBS Information reported.

The assault at Stone Harbor adopted an assault within the Florida Keys simply days prior. Two males have been bitten by sharks whereas fishing final week, CNN reported.

The US had essentially the most recorded shark assaults in 2022

All over the world, there have been greater than 3,000 shark assaults recorded within the final 50 years.

In 2022, the US had essentially the most recorded shark assaults on this planet with 41, certainly one of which was deadly.

Australia, in the meantime, ranked second with 9 assaults, however no fatalities. That is decrease than Australia’s five-year common of 15 assaults per 12 months.

Shark assaults within the US are concentrated in Florida

Oceans off of Australia are recognized for being the habitat for lethal sharks, together with the Nice White, Bull, and Tiger sharks.

Most shark assaults happen close to the shore, usually in sandbars or between sandbars the place sharks can grow to be trapped throughout low tide.

In deeper areas, like spots with steep drop-offs, sharks congregate as a result of creatures they feed on additionally collect there.

Shark assaults are decrease than up to now

The variety of unprovoked shark assaults worldwide in 2022 was 57 — considerably decrease than the annual common between 2017-2021, which was 70.

“It is probably that fatalities are down as a result of some areas have not too long ago applied rigorous seashore security protocols, particularly in Australia,” Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Museum of Pure Historical past’s Florida Program for Shark Analysis, advised Forbes in February.

However it’s vital to notice that shark assault numbers are likely to fluctuate and simply because they have been decrease not too long ago would not essentially sign a steady downward development. Time will inform if that is so.

In the meantime, beachgoers, particularly in sizzling spots within the US and Australia, ought to attempt to keep away from waters with sharks as a lot as attainable.

What to do in the event you’re attacked by a shark

For those who see a shark whereas within the water, maintain your eyes on it whereas slowly swimming again to shore. Eye contact indicators to the shark you realize of its presence and should not simple, unsuspecting prey.

For those who see a shark cost and it assaults, hit its eyes or nostril and, if attainable, stick your arms into its gills and pull laborious.

Whereas people can typically be victims of sharks, much more sharks are victimized by people annually.

Shark assaults worldwide are concentrated within the US

The worldwide shark inhabitants is in decline due to over-fishing — roughly 100 million sharks are killed yearly by fisheries, based on the Worldwide Wildlife Museum.

Furthermore, the destruction of their habitat because of local weather change has pressured sharks nearer to land, thus nearer to people.

Malin Pinsky, an affiliate professor at Rutgers College’s Division of Ecology, maybe put it finest in an interview with The Guardian in 2021:

“Local weather change is scrambling our ocean ecosystems and typically it produces surprises with a complete lot of tooth.”