New Smyrna Beach has seen more shark attacks than any other beach in the United States. The International Shark Attack File estimates that Florida has the most shark attacks worldwide each year. The location of New Smyrna Beach in Volusia County is where a disproportionate amount of them take place.
Bondi Beach, Australia
Most of the attacks have taken place off the coast of New South Wales, the state where Bondi Beach is located.
The states with the most shark attacks ever recorded are Florida, Hawaii, California, and the Carolinas. Florida is known as the "shark attack capital of the world" and accounts for more than half of the total shark attacks in the United States each year.
A 20-kilometre stretch of coastline encompassing the north-eastern coastal city of Recife is statistically the most dangerous place in the world for swimmers and surfers. Between 1992 and 2013, there were a record total of 62 shark attacks, 24 of which were fatal.
Connecticut Waters
Connecticut has only had a single shark attack in its waters, making the state's beaches some of the safest in America. The small state is bordered by Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, and the Long Island Sound.
Sharks occur in all habitats around the Australian coast line, however most are found on the continental slope or shelf, primarily on the bottom. However, many sharks are also found in coastal waters and a small number are even found in freshwater systems, such as rivers and estuaries.
When and where do sharks attack? From 2021-2022, New South Wales and Western Australia were the most common states for human/shark interactions in Australia, with 14 cases within each state. This was followed by Queensland with 3 cases and Victoria with 2 cases.
Unfortunately, Byron-Ballina is the official shark-attack capital of Australia, and the number of attacks has increased since 1990, from 12 to 15.
Fraser Island (or K'gari) is located just off the Southeastern coast of Queensland, Australia, and is the number one most dangerous beach in the world. The island may have been inhabited by humans for over 5,000 years now, but it is an exceptionally dangerous place to go!
In the north of Australia crocodiles are found in rivers and coastal estuaries and move around via the sea. Look for safety signs and do not swim in rivers, estuaries, mangrove shores or deep pools. Always seek local advice in your area about crocodiles before boating, fishing and camping.
Australia has some of the strongest shark mitigation programs in place to protect beach-goers while minimising harm to sharks. You'll find beaches with netted enclosures, aerial shark surveillance such as helicopters and drones, and beach sirens signalling you to leave the water if a shark is sighted.
Wikipedia The White Shark, more commonly referred to as the "Great White," has been reported to be involved in more attacks on humans than any other shark.
Australia has the highest number of fatal shark attacks in the world, with Western Australia recently becoming the deadliest place in the world for shark attacks with total and fatal shark bites growing exponentially over the last 40 years.
Slowly back away
Try not to thrash and splash around as you gradually swim backwards toward shore. “You must try and keep the animal in sight and very slowly and gently try and swim backwards and get into shallow water. Again, you've got to be careful – large sharks can attack in very shallow depths.”
White sharks occur in coastal, shelf, and continental slope waters around Australia from the Montebello Islands in north-western Western Australia, south around the coast to at least as far north as central Queensland including Tasmanian waters.
Shark attacks: Bondi
Of these incidents only two fatalities have occurred, a very low number given the large number of swimmers who regularly use Bondi Beach.
"For most parts of Australia, between September through to around December, we see an increase in fish migrating through our coastal waters, and therefore the likelihood of a shark encounter is increased because we obviously have sharks who are following fish for a feed."
The coast of Western Australian is the most deadly, with 18 fatal shark attacks.
RECORD SHARK Catch in Streaky Bay
Caught 22 kms out of Streaky Bay the shark tired and was gaffed after a 5 hour and 15 minute struggle. The massive shark caught on a 24 kg line weighed in at 1520 kgs and was more than 5m long. It is believed to be the biggest in the world caught on a 24 kg line – a world record!
In Australian waters the white shark's range extends primarily from southern Queensland, around the southern coastline and to the North West Cape in Western Australia.
Since sharks see contrast colors, anything that is very bright against lighter or darker skin can look like a bait fish to a shark. For this reason, he suggests swimmers avoid wearing yellow, white, or even bathing suits with contrasting colors, like black and white.
There have been over 20 shark sightings in Sydney Harbour since the beginning of this year. The above-average rainfall along the Eastern seaboard in 2022 has resulted in more nutrients being washed into waterways, drawing in more fish and, consequently, more sharks.
Most shark attacks occur less than 100 feet from the shore mainly around popular beaches in North America (especially Florida and Hawaii), Australia, and South Africa.