Shark attacks last year rose, however FL bucked trend

The incidence of shark assaults hit a 30-year high last year, according to an annual report on the phenomenon. Florida saw fewer shark attacks in 2010, but the state nevertheless led the United States in that statistic. The belief that sharks are colorblind, as proven in a recent study, might contribute to better shark attack prevention for ocean adventurers.

International shark attack statistics

In 1980, there were 80 shark assaults documented by the University of FL which compiles the Worldwide Shark Attack file. Now, the 2010 report comes close to that with 79 documented attacks. Six shark attacks were fatal. From the 63 total shark attacks in 2009, that's a 25 percent increase. The normal 36 assaults occurred in the U.S. It still made the country a leader though. There were 14 in Australia which is famous for sharks. Eight happened in South Africa. Six were reported in both Vietnam and Egypt. In Egypt, four of five of the shark assaults happened in five days. There were recreational divers feeding reef fishes and sharks during the very hot summer in Egypt while a passing cargo ship put dead sheep overboard.

Florida sees drop in shark assaults

Most shark assaults typically come from Florida. However, for the fourth straight year a decline in attacks was reported. Florida lead the U.S. in shark assaults with 13, but the 10-year Florida shark attack average is 23. Other states listed in the Shark Attack File include North Carolina (5), CA (4), Hawaii (4) and South Carolina (4). Georgia, Maine, Oregon, Texas, VA and WA had one shark attack. The recession and the British Petroleum oil leak, which reduced the number of tourists coming to Florida, may have been a factor in Florida’s relatively low number of shark attacks in 2010.

How you can keep a shark attack from taking place

When it came to who got hunt, the sharks picked surfers. Over half of the 2010 cases were surfers getting attacked. Sharks are colorblind as a recent study showed. That means protection is possible. Sharks see in shades of gray and wet suits and surfboards with a lower visual contrast may be less attractive. Most sharks are curious about what is going on instead of going for a meal when attacking. The black wetsuits often worn by surfers offer a high contrast sharks will notice. "Yum, yum yellow" is what the U.S. Navy utilizes to refer to the attraction sharks have to colors. Yellow is more attractive. Blue or green wet suits with a lower contrast could prevent shark assaults.

Articles cited

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/41458324/ns/world_news-world_environment/?GT1=43001

Gainesville Sune

gainesville.com/article/20110207/ARTICLES/110209535/1109/sports?Title=Economy-to-blame-for-drop-in-Florida-shark-attacks-expert-says&tc=ar

Los Angeles Times

latimesblogs.latimes.com/outposts/2011/01/sharks-are-color-blind-shark-attacks.html