US ranks as the top country for shark attacks. Here’s what that means for SC residents

Sarah Claire McDonald

With “Shark Week” in full swing on TV, it may have many wondering about shark species local to the area, shark attack frequencies off the South Carolina coast, and more.

Lucky for us, in South Carolina, we don’t generally have many incidents that reflect a remake of another “Jaws” movie.

The same cannot be said for the rest of the country.

“Consistent with long-term trends, the United States recorded the most unprovoked shark bites in 2021, with 47 confirmed cases. This is 42% higher than the 33 incidents that occurred in the U.S. in 2020. The 47 cases represent 64% of the worldwide total,” according to the Florida Museum International Shark Attack File in a yearly, worldwide shark attack summary.

Unprovoked attacks are defined by the ISAF as “incidents in which a bite on a live human occurs in the shark’s natural habitat with no human provocation of the shark.”

Florida was the leading state for the most unprovoked shark attacks in 2021, which was a continuing trend for the state as it has previously topped global charts for a number of years for their numbers of reported shark attacks.

A Sand Tiger shark swims through Dangerous Reef. Sand Tiger #3 has been in Ripley’s Aquarium since their opening in 1997. Ripley’s Aquarium is celebrating their 25th year of entertaining and educating guests in Myrtle Beach. June 15, 2022.
A Sand Tiger shark swims through Dangerous Reef. Sand Tiger #3 has been in Ripley’s Aquarium since their opening in 1997. Ripley’s Aquarium is celebrating their 25th year of entertaining and educating guests in Myrtle Beach. June 15, 2022.

Last year, Florida had 28 reported cases, which represented 60% of the country’s overall total. In addition, this number also made up 38% of unprovoked bites worldwide. This number is consistent with the state’s recent five-year average of 25 incidents per year.

While not all shark encounters are reported, in contrast, South Carolina reported cases trailed Florida numbers with four.

Twelve shark species have been detected by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources by acoustic receivers off of South Carolina and Georgia.

These species include the great white, sand tiger shark, bull shark, tiger shark, lemon shark, blacktip shark, spinner shark, blacknose shark, bonnethead shark, finetooth shark, great hammerhead shark, and the scalloped hammerhead shark.

Of these 12 recorded shark species, tiger sharks comprised 45% of the transmitter days of data collected for large coastal sharks, according to SCDNR.

To keep your family safe while swimming or playing in the ocean, the ISAF recommends these six tips:

  • Swim with a predetermined buddy

  • Stay close to the shore

  • Don’t swim around dawn or dusk

  • Don’t swim around schools of fish or where people are fishing along the shore

  • Avoid wearing any jewelry — especially if it is reflective

  • Avoid excess splashing in the water

If a shark tries to bite you, it is recommended that the swimmer does these two things:

  • Hit the shark in the eyes and gills. These are sensitive areas that can be hurt regardless of personal strength.

  • Hit the shark on the snout and push it away from you. Be aware that water-resistance may weaken your punch.

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