Shark Attack - "Shark Attacks Persist Across U.S. Coasts, Florida Remains Hotspot"

So far in 2025, the United States has reported seven shark attack bites, with Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, New York, and Hawaii each recording at least one incident according to Tracking Sharks. None of the attacks in the US this year have resulted in fatalities, and only one was considered provoked, which happened in Hawaii during a shark tour off Oahu. In that case, a shark latched onto a diver's forearm after the presence of a bait ball drew several sharks into the area. The victim, an employee of the tour company, survived and retained feeling in his arm. This aligns with longstanding trends, as Hawaii typically sees a handful of shark incidents annually, ranking third in the nation behind Florida and California.

Florida remains the perennial hotspot for shark encounters. Data from Live Now Fox shows the state has recorded 942 attacks since 1882, with New Smyrna Beach in Volusia County topping global charts for shark encounters. Most of the bites in Florida are minor and often caused by smaller sharks such as blacktip sharks, which are known to mistake swimmers’ limbs for bait fish. Only one unprovoked fatal shark attack occurred in the US in 2024, off the northwest coast of Oahu in Hawaii, involving a well-known local surfer and lifeguard.

National data compiled by World Animal Foundation confirms the US consistently records the highest number of shark bites globally. In 2023, there were 36 unprovoked shark bites across the country, which accounted for more than half of the global total. The majority of these incidents occur in warm coastal states, particularly Florida, the Carolinas, California, and Hawaii.

In the broader global context, Australia continues to report the highest number of attacks outside the US, with ten so far in 2025, including three fatal incidents. Other international hotspots include New Caledonia and the Turks and Caicos Islands, where recent fatal and severe attacks have been linked to activities such as spearfishing or approaching sharks in shallow water.

Experts and local officials note that the rise in reported sightings and encounters is driven mainly by more people entering the water, improved reporting technology, and shifting ocean conditions rather than a surge in shark populations. Conservation successes have also contributed to healthier shark numbers near coastlines.

To address and reduce future risk, beach communities across the US are deploying public safety measures such as shark warning systems, increased lifeguard patrols, drone surveillance, and public education campaigns. In areas like Volusia County, beachgoers are routinely reminded to avoid swimming during dawn or dusk, stay away from schools of fish, and heed flagged warnings. Further, many tour operators and local authorities have reinforced guidelines about not feeding or baiting sharks, which can increase risk. While the overall chance of a shark bite remains extremely low, these combined efforts aim to keep both the public and the shark populations safe.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So far in twenty twenty five, the United States has
reported seven shark attack bites, with Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina,
New York, and Hawaii each recording at least one incident.
According to Tracking Sharks, None of the attacks in the
US this year have resulted in fatalities, and only one
was considered provoked, which happened in Hawaii during a shark

(00:21):
tour off Oahu. In that case, a shark latched onto
a diver's forearm after the presence of a bait ball
drew several sharks into the area. The victim, an employee
of the tour company, survived and retained feeling in his arm.
This aligns with long standing trends, as Hawaii typically sees
a handful of shark incidents annually, ranking third in the

(00:43):
nation behind Florida and California. Florida remains the perennial hotspot
for shark encounters. Data from Live now Fox shows the
state has recorded nine hundred and forty two attacks since
eighteen eighty two, with New Smyrna Beach in Vlusha County
topping global tricks Art for shark encounters. Most of the
bites in Florida, are minor and often caused by smaller sharks,

(01:06):
such as black tip sharks, which are known to mistake
swimmer's limbs for baitfish. Only one unprovoked fatal shark attack
occurred in the US in twenty twenty four, off the
northwest coast of Oahu in Hawaii, involving a well known
local surfer and lifeguard. National data compiled by World Animal
Foundation confirms the US consistently records the highest number of

(01:28):
shark bites globally. In twenty twenty three, there were thirty
six unprovoked shark bites across the country, which accounted for
more than half of the global total. The majority of
these incidents occur in warm coastal states, particularly Florida, the Carolinas, California,
and Hawaii. In the broader global context, Australia continues to

(01:50):
report the highest number of attacks outside the US, with
ten so far in twenty twenty five, including three fatal incidents.
Other international hotspot include New Caledonia and the Turks and
Caicos Islands, where recent fatal and severe attacks have been
linked to activities such as spear fishing or approaching sharks
in shallow water experts and local officials note that the

(02:13):
rise in reported sightings and encounters is driven mainly by
more people entering the water, improved reporting technology, and shifting
ocean conditions, rather than a surge in shark populations. Conservation
successes have also contributed to healthier shark numbers near coastlines.
To address and reduce future risk, beach communities across the

(02:36):
US are deploying public safety measures such as shark warning systems,
increased lifeguard patrols, drone surveillance, and public education campaigns. In
areas like Vlusha County, beach goers are routinely reminded to
avoid swimming during dawn or dusk, stay away from schools
of fish, and heed flagged warnings. Further, many tour operators

(02:57):
and local authorities have reinforced guide lines about not feeding
or baiting sharks, which can increase risk. While the overall
chance of a shark bite remains extremely low, these combined
efforts aim to keep both the public and the shark
populations safe.