Sharks

General information about shark attack fatalities

This article is in response to being often asked if sharks should be killed or swimming areas fenced off because they pose a threat to humans.

When we read or hear about someone being attacked by a shark it has a very emotive affect on most of us, but It is important to put this issue in perspective.

A few facts  

In the USA in the 30 years 1970-2000 ~ 12 people died from shark attacks, in this same period ~ 1,500 people died from lighting strikes in coastal regions. These figures are only from coastal regions so as not to inflate the number of deaths from lighting strikes.

Each year worldwide there are ~ 10 deaths attributable to shark attacks compared with ~ 150 deaths worldwide caused by falling coconuts.

More people each year are killed by elephants, crocodiles, bees, and wars and many other dangers that confront us, than by sharks. 

Compare the number of deaths by shark attack with death as the result of a motor vehicle accident.

Remember there are ~10 deaths attributable to shark attacks worldwide.
USA - ~45,000 deaths by motor vehicle (pop ~250 million)
Thailand - ~ 60,000 deaths by motor vehicle (pop ~60 million)
Australia - ~ 3,000 deaths by motor vehicle (pop ~20 million)

Kids Quiz 

How many sharks do you think are estimated to be taken worldwide through fishing activities each year?

Which do you think is the correct answer? A-G

For the correct answer
use your mouse to highlight the space between the arrow heads