Global Shark Attacks Drop Significantly in 2024, Marking a Decade Low

The International Shark Attack File reports a sharp decline in unprovoked shark bites worldwide, with fatalities also decreasing notably.

The total number of unprovoked shark attacks in 2024 fell to 47, a significant decrease from the previous year's 69 and well below the 10-year average of 70.
The United States accounted for 28 of the global unprovoked bites, with Florida leading at 14 incidents, including eight in Volusia County, often referred to as the 'shark bite capital of the world.'
Unprovoked fatalities globally dropped to four, with one occurring in U.S. waters off Oahu, Hawaii, and three others reported in Egypt, Western Sahara, and the Maldives.
Experts attribute the decrease in attacks to changes in environmental conditions and human-shark interaction patterns, emphasizing that the likelihood of a shark encounter remains extremely low.
The report highlights ongoing conservation concerns, noting that human activities result in the deaths of an estimated 100 million sharks annually, primarily due to practices like finning and bycatch.