Something in the water

The downward trend in shark attacks may be good news for swimmers but is it bad news for sharks?

- Stuart Blackman

NEW DATA REINFORCES THE IDEA OF a recent downward trend for unprovoked shark attacks following decades of incremental rise. The International Shark Attack File ISAF), collated by the Florida Museum, reveals 57 unprovoked bites in 2022, of which five were fatal. This is below the 10-year average of 74.

“Over the past four or five years, the numbers do seem to be tilting downwards, but it’s not enough to be statistically significant,” says ISAF program director Gavin Naylor.