Chomping On Some Bits: Shark Bites On The Rise

A great white shark seen in the waters off Gansbaai in South Africa. With people returning to the beaches following the pandemic, a rise in shark bites has been recorded worldwide, especially in the United States, where 64 percent of attacks took place. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Shark bites increased in 2021, following three consecutive years of decline, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File (ISAF). Researchers tallied 73 unprovoked attacks worldwide last year. While that is just over the five-year global average of 72, it is significantly higher than 2020’s 52 confirmed bites — the lowest in 10 years.

“Shark bites dropped drastically in 2020 due to the pandemic. This past year was much more typical, with average bite numbers from an assortment of species and fatalities from white sharks, bull sharks and tiger sharks,” said ISAF manager Tyler Bowling.