#1787
NVR2L8 - 9/21/2008 11:14 AM
On average, one-third of the world’s attacks and the majority of U.S, attacks are recorded from Florida. Following that trend, Florida (32) had most of the unprovoked attacks in the United States. Since dropping from 37 in 2000 to an eleven year low of 12 in 2004, there has been a gradual upswing in attacks back to former levels. Additional U.S. attacks were recorded in Hawaii (7, its highest since 2002), South Carolina (5), California (3), North Carolina (2), and Texas (1). Volusia County usually is the source of about half of Florida’s activity and in 2007 had 17 bites, its highest total since 2002. This area normally has higher numbers of shark-human interactions as a result of very high aquatic recreational utilization of its attractive waters by both Florida residents and tourists, especially surfers drawn to the good breaks at New Smyrna Beach. Other Florida counties having attacks in 2007 were St. Lucie (4), Flagler (2), Sarasota (2), and Brevard, Broward, Collier, Martin, Indian River, Monroe, and Palm Beach (one each). The east coast of Florida historically has had more attacks than the Gulf of Mexico coastline because of the larger number of beach users, particularly surfers, utilizing its high-energy beaches.

Surfers/windsurfers (35 incidents: 56% of cases with victim activity information) and swimmers/waders (24: 38%) and were the recreational user groups most often involved in shark attacks in 2007. Less affected were divers/snorkelers (4: 6%). In eight attacks the activity of the victim was not ascertained. Surfers have been the most affected user group in recent years.