Shark attacks increased in 2023 around the world even as the species faces extinction, with Australia recording a disproportionate number of deaths, a study published on Monday showed.
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The annual report from the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), a database from the University of Florida (USA), indicates that 69 “unprovoked” shark bites occurred in 2023 worldwide, compared to 63 in 2022.
These attacks, more than half of which (36) occurred in the United States, left 10 people dead, double the number compared to the previous year.
In its study, ISAF distinguishes between “unprovoked” attacks and so-called “provocative” attacks, which are bites that occur after a person intentionally approaches a shark or swims in an area where there is bait used to attract fish.
The report included only “unprovoked” attacks, after they were recorded through newspaper articles.
But the increase in these attacks does not mean that sharks have become more numerous or more aggressive, emphasizes Gavin Naylor, co-author of the study.
“In general, the number of sharks has decreased,” he explains. According to a 2021 study published in the journal Nature, the global population of sharks and rays has already declined by 71% since 1970.
But due to overfishing and rising water temperatures, sharks are moving closer to the coast to hunt. This creates a gap between the discourse of scientists and the experience of fishermen, who are watching more and more, Mr. Naylor points out.
There's another element that can play a role: improving water quality. For example, the latter had the consequence in 2023 of attracting more fish to New York's coasts, and thus bull sharks.
Several people were bitten by sharks last summer near Long Island, prompting authorities to step up shark patrols.
Of the 10 deaths recorded in 2023, four were in Australia, including three on the remote Eyre Peninsula, two in the United States and one each in the Bahamas, Egypt, Mexico, France and Caledonia.
On the Eyre Peninsula, increasing seal numbers have pushed white sharks closer to shore, bringing them into greater contact with surfers. However, being an isolated area reduces the chances of quick treatment for victims, points out Gavin Naylor.
