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There
were 8 authenticated unprovoked shark attacks reported from the Pacific Coast of
North America during 2012, which includes 1 fatal attack. There were 7 attacks,
including the fatal case, recorded from California and 1 from Oregon. The
attacks were distributed in the following months; January (1), May (2), July (2)
and October (3). There
were 2 shark attacks reported south of the southern Santa Barbara County line,
with the remaining 5 attacks from Santa Barbara County north.
The
single Oregon shark attack occurred near Lincoln City. Activities
of the victims were; 4 Surfing (1 fatal), 2 Kayaking, 1 Windsurfing and 1 Paddle
boarding. The Great White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias, was positively
identified or highly suspect in all 8 of the attacks.
The
publication “Shark Attacks of the
Twentieth Century” authenticated 108 unprovoked shark attacks from the
Pacific Coast between 1900 and 1999. The Great White Shark was implicated in 94
(87%) of the 108 confirmed attacks with an annual average of slightly more than
one shark attack per year. The 8 cases reported for 2012 brings the total number
of unprovoked shark attacks occurring along the Pacific Coast during the
21st Century to 72. This is ‘six times’ the Twentieth Century annual
average of slightly more than 1 shark attack per year. The Great White Shark was
positively identified or highly suspect in 63 (88%) of the 72 attacks recorded
during the 21st Century. From 2000 to the present, 35 (49%) of the 72
confirmed shark attacks occurred during the three month period of August (10),
September (9), and October (16). There have been 180 authenticated unprovoked
shark attacks reported from the Pacific Coast of North America from 1900 to
2012. The Great White Shark was positively identified or highly suspect in 157
(87%) of the 180 cases. There were 8 fatal shark attacks confirmed from 1900 to
1999 and 5 fatal attacks reported from 2000 to 2012. The 13 fatal attacks
represent 7% of the 180 total cases.
Victim
activity for the 72 shark attacks reported from the Pacific Coast since 2000 are
distributed in the following ocean user groups; surfers 48 (67%) of the
documented attacks, with 5 swimmers (7%), 8 kayakers (11%), 4 divers (6%), 4
paddle boarders (6%), 1 windsurfer (1%), 1 fishing (1%), and 1 boogie boarder
(1%). The number of shark-bitten stranded marine mammals reported in 2012 was
greater than the prior year, especially in Santa Barbara County. The location
and time of year, would suggest an increase in the number of Great White Sharks
utilizing those specific areas. However, this might not be the result of an
increase in their population but rather locations being targeted by sharks
migrating along the Pacific Coast.The Shark Research Committee will continue to
closely monitor these activities.
Additional
information regarding the Shark Research Committee’s conservation, education,
and research programs is available at:
www.sharkresearchcommittee.com
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