Shark attacks are an incredibly rare event in Florida, though there are certain times and areas where they happen more often.
In the past week alone, there have been attacks in New Smyrna Beach and Ponce Inlet.
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According to the Florida Museum’s International Shark Attack File, there have been nearly 1,000 confirmed unprovoked shark attacks in Florida since 1882
Of the 26 counties on the list, Volusia County leads the pack with 343 incidents, making it the “Shark Bite Capital of the World.”
Meanwhile, Brevard County follows in the No. 2 spot with 156 attacks.
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The rest of the list is as follows:
However, the data also shows that most shark attacks aren’t fatal, with only 6.8% of these attacks ending with deaths between 2010 and 2019.
Shark attacks are also more common at specific times, with most unprovoked attacks happening in the afternoon and during late summer.
Beyond that, the largest number of unprovoked shark attacks since 1926 are perpetrated by requiem shark species.
On the flipside, Mako and blue sharks are each responsible for an estimated 1% of these attacks.
| Shark Species | Percentage of Attacks |
|---|---|
| Requiem spp. | 36% |
| Bull | 16% |
| Blacktip | 15% |
| Spinner | 9% |
| Hammerhead | 8% |
| Sandbar | 7% |
| Lemon | 3% |
| Tiger | 2% |
| Nurse | 2% |
| Mako | 1% |
| Blue | 1% |
To reduce your chances of being attacked by a shark, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission offers the following tips:
- Always stay in groups: Sharks are more likely to attack individuals who are on their own.
- Don’t wander too far from shore: Doing so isolates swimmers and makes assistance more difficult if needed.
- Avoid being in the water at night: Despite most shark attacks happening during the day, sharks are most active during darkness or twilight hours.
- Don’t enter the water if you’re bleeding or menstruating: Sharks are able to smell blood in the water.
- Be careful about how you look: Sharks can see contrasts decently, so bright-colored clothes and uneven tans can draw a shark’s attention.
- Refrain from splashing too much: This sort of activity can draw a shark’s attention.
The FWC also warns beachgoers and swimmers along Florida’s coast to stick to areas with lifeguards and never harass sharks in the wild.
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