The number of shark attacks around the world fell by about one-quarter last year, with the US and Australia reporting the highest number of them.
There were four fatalities worldwide, in line with the long-term average of six, according to the annual release of the Florida-based International Shark Attack File.
The US had the most shark attacks on humans in 2018, with 32 confirmed cases and one fatality. This was markedly lower than the 53 attacks there in 2017. Half of the 2018 attacks took place in Florida.
Australia was second on the list, with 20 unprovoked shark attacks last year, slightly higher than the five-year annual average of 14. There was one fatality, which fell below Australia’s average of two fatal attacks each year.
Nine attacks took in New South Wales, eight in Western Australia, two in Queensland (one fatal) and one in Victoria.
Gavin Naylor, the director of the Florida Museum of Natural History’s shark research program, said the decline in attacks was unusual. “Statistically, this is an anomaly,” he said. “It begs the question of whether we’re seeing fewer bites because there are fewer sharks – that would be the ‘glass half-empty’ interpretation.
“Or it could be that the general public is heeding the advice of beach safety officials. My hope is that the lower numbers are a consequence of people becoming more aware and accepting of the fact that they’re sharing the ocean with these animals.”
South Africa recorded two non-fatal attacks in 2018, significantly lower than its annual average of four and one fatality. But four unclassified attacks from South Africa are still under investigation.
Egypt and Brazil had three shark attacks and the Bahama Islands, Costa Rica, the Galapagos Islands, New Caledonia, New Zealand and Thailand had one each.
The 2018 worldwide total of 66 confirmed, unprovoked cases was lower than the most recent five-year average of 84 incidents annually.
The International Shark Attack File is compiled by the Florida Museum of Natural History and the American Elasmobranch Society.