X-Ray Mag

Fifty-nine percent of the attacks worldwide involved board sports. French said this group spends a large amount of time in the surf zone, an area commonly frequented by sharks.
Fifty-nine percent of the attacks worldwide involved board sports. French said this group spends a large amount of time in the surf zone, an area commonly frequented by sharks.

2017 "average year" for unprovoked shark attacks

6 years ago By Catherine GS Lim

In 2017, there had been 88 reported unprovoked shark attacks worldwide. Although this figure is an increase from the most recent five-year annual average of 83, it is pretty much considered to be an "average year", according to Lindsay French, who manages the University of Florida International Shark Attack File (ISAF).

The ISAF is the world's only scientifically documented, comprehensive database of all known shark attacks.

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