The Strange Reason America Has More Shark Attacks Than Europe

Turquoise waters and gorgeous coastlines entice vacationers from throughout the globe with their comfortable sand seashores the place you’ll be able to snorkel proper off the shore. These coastal locations have a tendency to draw different guests, as effectively, like a record-breaking bull shark near Alabama or the world’s largest tagged great white shark off the coast of Florida.

Given how unpredictable nature may be, it is important to pay attention to the locals out and in of the water. Reviews of shark assaults (just like the Bahamas shark attack on two American tourists in February 2025), together with unprovoked assaults, are noticeably greater within the US, particularly compared to different areas of the world, like Europe. However why is that this? The explanations are just a little bit unusual.

What Leads To Extra Shark Assaults In America Than In Europe?

America faces extra shark assaults than Europe, and there are clear explanation why

Australia has reported a number of shark assaults not too long ago, along with the Caribbean within the information not way back for the assault that occurred in Turks and Caicos, however Florida is constantly dubbed the “shark attack capital of the world.”

Many assaults occur inside the US, particularly in states like California, Hawaii, and, in fact, Florida. Actually, the USA noticed essentially the most unprovoked shark bites in 2024.

“Per long-term tendencies, the USA recorded essentially the most unprovoked shark bites in 2024, with 28 confirmed circumstances. That is barely decrease than the 36 incidents recorded in 2023. The 28 circumstances signify 60% of the worldwide complete.” – the Florida Museum’s International Shark Attack File.

However there’s a selected space that doesn’t appear to be popping up within the information relating to shark assaults: Europe. The Mediterranean Sea has about 50 different species of sharks, but you don’t usually hear about shark assaults in these waters.

Wanting again at historic info, there have solely been about 36 assaults reported, 18 of them leading to demise, over the course of 150 years, proving that it does occur there, however a lot much less continuously than within the US coastal states, with Florida being a serious space for shark assaults.

“Florida has lengthy topped world charts for the variety of shark bites, and 2024 was no totally different. Florida’s 14 circumstances signify 50% of the U.S. complete and 30% of unprovoked bites worldwide. That is decrease than Florida’s most up-to-date five-year annual common of 19 incidents.” – The Florida Museum’s International Shark Attack File.

The Florida Museum’s Worldwide Shark Assault File continued:

“Volusia County had essentially the most shark bites (8), representing 57% of the state’s complete. That is in step with the five-year annual common of 9 incidents within the space. Of the six remaining bites, two have been in Walton County, and one every occurred within the Martin, Brevard, St. Johns and Indian River counties.”

One other Motive Is That Shark Populations Are Declining In The Mediterranean

Extra sharks result in the next chance of assaults, so Europe’s declining shark inhabitants means fewer incidents

The vary of species of sharks that exist include numerous character traits, similar to people. Some are extra erratic and unpredictable, fast to assault, whereas others are relaxed and don’t have a tendency to focus on people.

Most of the sharks that reside in European waters aren’t usually too harmful when it comes to the species. That stated, though there are occasional assaults, they’re considerably fewer than American shark assaults, with one motive being the numerous lower within the inhabitants of sharks within the Mediterranean.

Per Schengen News, shark sightings have diminished by as a lot as 90 p.c within the final 30 years on this area, and thus, there is no seen improve within the variety of sharks. The first motive for the decline appears to be many years of business fishing, air pollution, and habitat destruction.

Moreover, Totally different Shark Species Show Totally different Persona Traits

Similar to people, sharks can show numerous character traits like aggression, which might affect the variety of assaults

Variation and species additionally play a large function with regards to assaults. Some species of sharks are way more aggressive than others and current bigger numbers. For instance, the Mediterranean has species like blue sharks and even occasional sightings of whites (though there have solely been 10 inside the previous three many years, based on The Telegraph), however many want deep waters.

This implies they’re extra prone to hold their distance from swimmers nearer to shore. There are additionally species that, though they’re sharks, want noshing on different sea creatures, just like the basking shark, identified to eat plankton.

In distinction to the basking sharks, you’ll be able to nonetheless discover some species that are typically extra aggressive within the Mediterranean, like hammerheads or mako sharks, which may be unpredictable.

Lastly, Coastal U.S. States Run The Threat Of Extra Shark Assaults Due To Very best Environments

If you mix heat water temperatures and huge coastlines in sure US states, you may have the perfect atmosphere for these assaults to happen

Alongside the American coastlines, particularly noticeable in states like Florida and California, there’s a a lot greater chance of operating right into a harmful species that’s identified to be aggressive, like tiger sharks or bull sharks, along with extra nice white sharks in these waters.

So, it is likely to be price studying how to protect yourself from shark attacks in open water, particularly in case you’re visiting the most dangerous beaches for shark attacks in the U.S.

In the end, the shark species residing within the waters alongside the American coastlines are typically extra possessive and hostile within the water than their extra relaxed European cousins.

Coupled with the truth that there are extra sharks in American waters than in Europe’s, it is easy to grasp why the USA and the Americas basically are inclined to see higher incidents of shark assaults and sightings.