ALBAWABA - A new international study published by the University of Florida's International Shark Attack File has found that Australia is disproportionately affected by fatal shark attacks.
The study focused on the attacks categorized as "unprovoked" bites occurring in the natural habitats of sharks, which is considered important for understanding their behavior. Its findings indicate that isolated regions have a higher risk of fatalities. Specifically, four out of ten fatal incidents reported globally in 2023 occurred in Australia.
While the data shows that the majority of people who experienced "unprovoked" bites around the world were people swimming or wading in the water, surfers were the most common victims.
The Florida Museum of Natural History's director of shark research, Gavin Naylor, noted that three fatalities last year occurred in South Australia's Eyre Peninsula, where the seal population is high.
Study finds Australia at greater risk of fatal shark attacks
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He explained that seals are very agile, so the ones caught off-guard by fatal shark attacks are usually the ones that are goofing around on the surface.
Moreover, a bull shark killed a teenage girl in Western Australia's Swan River. Florida Program for Shark Research doctoral student Joe Miguez added that population density plays a crucial role in reducing fatalities when attacks occur.
While Australia's beach safety in popular patrolled areas is "second to none," remote and regional beaches remain dangerous due to their isolation. Miguez suggested that this is because after an attack when there is beach safety, a tourniquet can be applied sooner to save the victim's life.
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The study revealed that over 69 "unprovoked" bites were sustained worldwide, 42% of which were experienced by surfers, with 22% of these bites occurring in Australia.
The researchers concluded that the majority of shark attacks are a result of "test bites" by sharks mistaking people for their preferred prey, with incidents where tiger, bull, and white sharks repeatedly bit their victims, leading to unique outcomes.
