TRAVELERS may not know that a quiet town in the US has earned the harrowing title of “shark bite capital of the world.”
But despite 300 swimmers being ravaged by the terrifying underwater predators, brave tourists continue to flock the shores for a surprising reason.
GettyTravelers may not know that a city in the US is the shark bite capital of the world (stock image)[/caption] AFPThe beach has held the top spot for shark attacks since 1992[/caption]New Smyrna Beach, Florida, which is an hour outside Orlando, offers stunning views and perfect waves, drawing surfers and beachgoers from across the globe.
But it’s also become notorious for its shark bites as the crashing waves and steady flow of tourists make a perfect environment for attacks.
The beach held the dark achievement since 1992, according to the International Shark Attack File, Daytona Beach News-Journal reported.
In 2023 alone, eight people were targeted by the underwater killers.
Those attacks made up half of Florida’s total and drove the Sunshine State back to its comfortable spot on the top of the shark attack list.
The Florida-based database logged 69 unprovoked shark attacks worldwide in 2023, with 36 of them in the US and 16 in Florida.
Australia followed close behind with 15, while massive coastal countries like Brazil saw just three.
Surfers make up a large chunk of the victims, with nearly 50% of the last year’s bites worldwide linked to board sports.
One of those bitten was Chris Pospisil, who was attacked while surfing at New Smyrna Beach last summer.
Great White Sharks – the facts
Here's what you need to know...
The great white shark is a species of the large mackerel shark They’re typically found in the costal surface waters of all major oceans Great whites are famous for their size Females are bigger than males, growing up to 6.1 metres, or 20 feet, in length At full maturity, a great white can weigh up to 1,905 kilograms, or 4,200 pounds A 2014 study revealed that the lifespan of a great white shark is estimated at 70 years or longer Great white sharks can swim at speeds of over 56km/h or 35mph And they can swim to depths of 1,200m, or 3,900 feet Experts believe that grea whites have no natural predators, other than the killer whale in very rare instances Great whites became part of the popular imagination after the 1974 novel Jaws, and the later Steven Spielberg film adaptation Humans aren’t the natural prey of great whites, but they’re responsible for the largest number of unprovoked shark attacks on humans“When it bit me, it didn’t hurt right away. I just felt pressure. I kicked it with my leg, and it let go,” he said.
The shark clamped down on his left foot and dragged him underwater in 4 to 6 feet of surf.
“It came up from the underneath the left side of my board and chomped down on my left foot and I was able to see my foot in its mouth,” he recalled.
He kicked the shark with his other leg until it released him, then yelled for help as blood filled with water.
He needed surgery and over 40 stitches, with pieces of shark’s tooth embedded in his foot bone.
Despite the trauma, he is back in the water but more cautious than before.
“If my friend wasn’t in the water and if the lifeguards didn’t react quick enough, I probably would have died due to blood loss,” he said.
REASON BEHIND RISE IN SHARK BITE
Gavin Naylor, a shark expert at the Florida Museum of Natural History, said it’s a “confluence of factors” – including lots of sharks, baitfish, murky water, and people in the same area, that makes Volusia County stand out.
“The surf break attracts many surfers, who usually spend hours in the water at a time, to a part of the ocean rich in nutrients that attracts different fish species, such as mullets and menhadens,” Naylor added.
Blacktip sharks are the main culprits — fast, hungry, and often unable to see clearly in the turbid surf.
“They’re swimming all over the place chasing baitfish in low visibility water, plus 50 or 60 people with arms and legs dangling,” Naylor said.
Most bites are accidental, with the shark quickly swimming off once it realizes it’s bitten a human.
He noted that it’s lucky the area isn’t teeming with more dangerous species like tiger or bull sharks.
Despite the grisly record, many bites in the area are nonfatal, unlike in Australia, where four of last year’s 15 attacks were deadly.
PRECAUTIONARY STEPS
To stay safe, Naylor warns beachgoers to avoid wearing shiny jewelry, swimming alone, or entering the water at dawn or dusk.
He also says to steer clear of areas where baitfish are active or where people are fishing.
“High density of people, high density of baitfish, low visibility and a lot of sharks that are hungry,” he said.
“So the confluence of all those factors makes (Volusia) sort of a shark attack capital of the world.”
GettyMajority of these incidents occur during the warmer months, when more people are in the water (stock image)[/caption] Read More Details
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