Even with more shark attacks in the news, your risks are still very, very low.
In the span of just less than two hours , three people sufferedsharkattacks in less than a four - mile spoke onFlorida ’s Gulf Coaston June 7 . The attack were two separate incidents , and no one was pour down , but one adolescent girl required her bridge player and part of her left leg to beamputated following her injuries . These attacks have unsurprisingly appease unexampled affright aroundsharkattacks . Even though there ’s been a ton of progression since the daylight ofJawsto dispel the myth that shark are hunting humans , when incidents like the ones that occurred inWalton Countymake newspaper headline , some of that same paranoia can permeate conversation .
In 2023 , there were only 120 totalshark - human interaction worldwide . In the US , there were 36 incident and two fatalities . Meanwhile , humans kill 80 million sharks per year , and 25 million of those shark are athreatened coinage . In the Shark - Human moral force , the finned brute are n’t the most grievous . For a realism check , Dr. Catherine Macdonald , the director of the Shark Research and Conservation Program at theUniversity of Miami , broke down some of the most important information the public needs to know about sharks , shark attacks , and beach safety .
Sharks don’t want to bite people
Of the 120 shark - human incidents in 2023 , 22 of the bites were " evoke raciness , " which " take place when a human initiates interaction with a shark in some manner , " grant to theInternational Shark Attack File . " wanton bites " accounted for 69 snack , which are incidents where " a bite on a live human occurs in the shark ’s natural home ground with no human irritation of the shark . "
In this second scenario , Dr. Macdonald says sharks are n’t search out people to bite . " Sharks do n’t bite people as a thing of preference , " Macdonald explains . " And if they did , we would n’t be safe in any ocean . "
When it comes to Florida and the increase example of shark attacks in the state , it come down to probability . " Florida gets this reputation as the shark bite working capital of the world , " she continues . " That report comes from two things . We have a lot of shark . We have a passel of coastline . Our waters are hospitable to them . We have a lot of beaches . We have a large human population and a large tourist universe that want to be at those beaches and in the water . And our water is affectionate enough that you’re able to be in it class round and that the great unwashed visit beach year around . "
JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP/Getty Images
How can you avoid shark attacks?
" If you ’re in the ocean , you ’re in waters that are menage to sharks , " Macdonald enounce . " So if you are not comfy with that , there are some great answer include swim puddle for a guaranteed shark - gratis water experience . "
But , if you , like jillion of Americans , plan on bundle into the ocean as part of your summertime adventures , there are some simple , unwashed - sense approaches you may take to your prison term in the sea that will contract the likelihood of encountering sharks in their natural habitat . Here ’s what Macdonald advise :
These are the expert ways to reduce the likelihood of being burn by a shark — a scenario that ’s already less likely than dying from a falling coconut . Macdonald says these choices are more probable to be impactful than some of the gimmicky items you’re able to purchase online , which claim to repel sharks . " Those variety of choices about where and when you ’re go to be in the water supply are operate to do more to help keep you safe than any intersection that you could grease one’s palms , " she articulate .
Sharks are the least of your worries when it comes to beach safety
" If I ’m giving someone advice about staying good at the beach , that advice really take off with a conversation about sun trade protection , hydration , overwhelm risk , crosscurrent , and driving safely to get to the beach , " Macdonald says . " All of those are much more probable to cause somebody hurt than a shark is . "
That does n’t mean that you ca n’t impart a first aid kit in the result of a shark encounter . " You ’re much more potential to dilute your foot badly on a racing shell than to be burn by a shark , " she explain . " But you wo n’t be sorry that you have the good stuff to respond to injuries like that . "
So , if you are feel trepidation about your next beach head trip , there are ways to prepare more thoroughly to keep yourself and your lie with ace safe . But those conversations involve clear communicating about swim , supervising immature people in the water , packing enough water and sunscreen , and planning for enough spook to forefend overheat and sun overexposure .
you may even correspond for nearby coconut tree tree diagram if you really need to round out your safety preparedness .
" Most of the time the thing that sharks are attempt to accomplish is getting away from us and never seeing us again , " Macdonald say .
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