Trends in global shark attacks

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211049
• Publication Date: 2019-02-27T18:28:56Z
• Authors: Stephen R. Midway; Tyler Wagner; George H. Burgess
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; Science; Q; R; Australia; 01 natural sciences; United States; South Africa; Risk Factors; Sharks; Medicine; Animals; Humans; Bites and Stings; 14. Life underwater; Research Article

Shark attacks are a global phenomenon that attracts widespread attention and publicity, often with negative outcomes for shark populations. Despite the perceptions of attacks, trends in human water activities populations both dynamic, resulting variable rates over space time. Understanding may contribute to better understanding risk, more tempered response wake an attack. We found attack low, yet across regions decades. Countries low were have highest attack, while countries high (U.S.A., Australia, South Africa) tended overall rates, but also much interannual variability. From 1960s present, those be places where increased. Ultimately, risk is driven by local conditions (e.g., time day, species present); however, scale helps place into perspective scientifically-grounded discussion sharks, their management conservation.