World’s shark attack hotspots REVEALED: Map reveals the areas with the most encounters

Florida is the shark bite capital of the world after 16 unprovoked attacks were reported last year, a shocking map shows.

The International Shark Attack file shared an interactive map on his websitetracking global incidents from 1900 onwards.

Australia and the US are prime hotspots for vicious shark incidents, the data shows, with 50 incidents by 2022.

This accounts for 87 percent of last year’s shark attacks around the world, five of which resulted in fatalities for the victims.

But you may be surprised to know that these numbers actually show a ten-year low for shark attacks, with 73 in the previous year, resulting in nine deaths.

While unprovoked shark attacks are extremely rare in UK waters, they are much more common in other parts of the world. In the photo: a great white shark

“In general, the number of sharks in the world’s oceans has declined, which may have contributed to the recent lull,” said Gavin Naylor, director of the The Florida Museum of Natural History’s Florida Program for shark research.

“There are likely fewer deaths because some areas have recently implemented strict beach safety protocols, especially in Australia.”

According to the researchers, there is a one in 4,332,817 chance that a person will die in their lifetime as a result of a shark attack.

While unprovoked shark attacks are extremely rare worldwide, especially in the UK, they are more common in certain locations.

The International Shark Attack File shows that 40 percent of U.S. casualties were simply “walking, wading, or swimming” at the time of the incident.

Another 32 percent engaged in water sports, while 12 percent engaged in snorkeling or freediving.

Yet the data does not account for attacks that may have been motivated by human actions, whether intentional or unintentional.

This could be casting a fishing line directly near the shark, or dumping ‘chum’ – meat-based bait – in the water.

However, an additional 32 bites were reported that met the criteria to be provoked.

Florida is the shark bite capital of the world after 16 attacks in 2022

The Florida Museum has created a handy interactive map based on data from The International Shark Attack File (ISAF) that shows you the number of unprovoked shark attacks around the world since 1900

Last year’s numbers actually show a ten-year low for shark attacks, researchers claim

Dr. Naylor added: ‘Unprovoked bites give us significantly more insight into shark biology and behavior.

“Changing the environment so that sharks are drawn to the area in search of their natural food source may encourage them to bite humans when they otherwise wouldn’t.”

There were also reported to have been two attacks in Egypt last year, but the International Shark Attack File has not yet published its data for 2023.

This means that the death of Vladimir Popov earlier this month was not included in the statistics.

The 23-year-old was brutally killed by a shark at the Hurghada resort in Egypt on June 13.

His distraught father, Yury Popov, recounted his dismay when he saw his son being pulled apart by the “meat grinder” as he cried out, “Daddy, save me!”

To protect against shark attacks, the Florida Museum urges swimmers to stay close to shore and avoid water at dawn or dusk.

Excessive splashing, swimming near schools of fish, and even wearing excess jewelry can also pose a potential risk.