Shark attacks fell in the U.S. to just 28 in 2009, down from 41 in 2008, and 50 in 2007. There were just 19 attacks in the State of Florida, also down from 2008 & '07 (32 attacks in each of those years). George Burgess (pictured) is an expert who also monitors the International Shark Attack File (Florida Museum of Natural History) and stated for MSNBC.com that worldwide attacks were stable in 2009, and held around 61. Four shark attacks were fatal in South Africa and one fatal attack occurred in New Caledonia in the Pacific. The well-publicized death of a kite surfer in Stuart, Florida led to speculation about new and rising trends in attacks. Stephen H. Schafer, 38, was the first person to die from a shark attack in Florida in five years and only the 14th since 1896. Dr. Burgess investigated the attack and speculated that it was a bull or tiger shark, possibly 8 or 9-feet in lenght.
Dr. Burgess stated that almost 60% of attacks were fatal at the turn of the century, while only 7% of all attacks were fatal betwen the years 2000 and 2010. Many factors are the reason for this but accuracy of reporting, medical care are primary reasons.
More than half of the attacks worldwide involved surfers.
A series of attacks off the New Jesrey coast in 1916 is still being questioned and debated, but most likely a bull shark killed four individuals and injured one more between July 1 and July 12, 1916 on Beach Haven, Spring Lake, and Matawan Creek, N.J. Close To Shore and Twelve Days of Terror were two books written recently and detailed the attacks and investigations. Peter Benchley wrote his novel Jaws (1974) based upon these attacks.
International Shark Attack File
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