A string of recent bitings and sightings across the U.S. have prompted officials to issue several beach closures and advisories warning swimmers to stay out of the shark-infested waters.
Just as researchers named Florida the 2023 shark attack capital of the world, a surfer's encounter with an aggressive shark on the opposite coast forced southern California authorities to shut down a popular beach Memorial Day. At the same time and as water temperatures warm, a pair of great white sharks were spotted hunting off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, following the migration of their preferred prey – seals.
The uptick in sightings and attacks carried out by the apex predators coincides with the unofficial kickoff to summer, as families flock to the beaches for some R&R.
SurferToday provided a map of shark attacks in the U.S. in 2024, categorizied by sighting, bite, and lethality.
The Florida Museum also tracks shark attack data, keeping records on unprovoked shark attacks from as far back as 1900 all the way to 2023.
How Many Shark Attacks Were in 2023?
According to the International Shark Attack File, 120 shark-human interactions were investigated in 2023. Sixty-nine shark bites were unprovoked, while 22 bites were provoked. Scientists classify provoked attacks as preceded by human interaction, including instances of attempted touching and feeding, according to the report.
Nine boats were bitten by sharks, and 16 cases were classified as "unconfirmed," meaning injuries could not be attributed to a shark with absolute certainty.
Which U.S. State Has the Most Shark Attacks
Once again, Florida nabbed the top spot for the most shark attacks in the U.S., with 16 of 36 bites occurring in its waters in 2023, according to researchers. None of the attacks in Florida were fatal. The number is slightly lower than its five-year annual average of 19 attacks, the report stated. Hawaii came in second with eight bites last year, and New York trailed with four. The rest of the attacks were spread across the Carolinas, California, and New Jersey. One attack each in Hawaii and California were fatal.
"This is within the range of the normal number of bites, though the fatalities are a bit unnerving this year," Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Museum of Natural History's shark research program said in a statement.
What Kind of Sharks Swim Near U.S. Beaches
Hammerhead, bull, nurse and great white sharks commonly swim near U.S. beaches, as do tiger sharks, but there are over 400 species, research shows.
Because of their strength and size, white, bull and tiger sharks caused the most amount of fatal attacks, worldwide.
Increased human activity in a shark's natural habitat directly correlates to an increase in attacks, with most occurring while people are surfing, swimming or wading in the water.
