14 DAY TRIAL // A survey of the shark attacks in 2006 made at University of Florida revealed a constant number of attacks from one year to another, which represents in fact a continuous overall long-term decline, due to overfishing and the more cautious behavior of the swimmers.
"The total number of shark attacks worldwide increased from 61 in 2005 to 62 in 2006 and the number of fatalities remained stable at four, far below the 79 attacks and 11 fatalities recorded in 2000," said George Burgess, director of the International Shark Attack File housed at UF's Florida Museum of Natural History.
"It's really quite remarkable when you have only four people a year die in the mouth of a shark and puts in perspective how small shark attack is as a phenomenon. Fewer sharks are swarming near the shore where humans swim as larger numbers of shark and other fish of prey are killed each year," Burgess said. "At the same time, many Third World countries are making strides in improving medical care and beach safety, while many people are getting smarter about where and when to get into the water", he said.
"The number of attacks in the United States, the world's leader, dipped slightly from 40 in 2005 to 38 in 2006; well below the 53 recorded in 2000. As in past years, Florida was the world's shark capital, with 23 attacks. This was slightly higher than the 19 cases reported in 2005 but considerably lower than the annual average of 33 between 2000 and 2003," he said.
The survey tracked 7 attacks in Australia, 4 in South Africa, 3 in Brazil, 2 in the Bahamas and one for each of the following: Fiji, Guam, Mexico, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, La Reunion, Spain and Tonga.
The four deadly attacks occurred in Australia, Brazil, La Reunion and Tonga. The Australian fatality (a woman) might have been triggered by fishermen cleaning their catch and throwing bloodied fish in the water.
The Brazilian victim was a male surfer and the Tongan attack was on a 24-year-old female from an American Peace Corps volunteer.
The Reunion case involved a male surfer, 34, who entered a forbidden area. "Some of these tourists bring their aquatic recreation to places known to be sharky without asking the natives about good and bad places," Burgess said.
The data of the survey revealed that the bulk of the victims was made by surfers and windsurfers, 26 cases in 2006, while swimmers and waders accounted with 21, and divers and snorkelers with 5.
Other US attacks occurred in South Carolina; 3 in Hawaii, 3 in Oregon; 2 in California; and New Jersey, North Carolina and Texas accounted each one with one attach.
Photo above: Great white shark; below: tiger shark. These two species account for the highest number of victims, first on temperate waters, the second in tropical waters.
