When you think of sharks, you may associate them with attacking and biting people, especially if “Jaws” is one of your favorite movies. Did you know that sharks don’t actually target humans for meals, or that the shark capital of the world is in the United States?
In fact, the shark capital of the world is New Smyrna Beach in Florida because of the number of sharks, shark encounters and shark bites that happen there.
Why is New Smyrna Beach, FL the Shark Capital of the World?
A beach is thought of as a place to relax, have fun, catch some sun, and enjoy the waves. While you can enjoy many activities at the beach, there is one popular beach, in particular, you may want to remain alert at, at all times.
New Smyrna Beach in Volusia County, Florida, is the shark capital of the world. This beach has been named the shark capital of the world because of the two shark attacks that occurred within three days in 2019. The shark population in the Atlantic Ocean waters offer of New Smyrna Beach has increased significantly, which puts shark attacks on the rise.
According to National Geographic, and the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), New Smyrna Beach is now the shark capital of the world. It is estimated that anyone who takes a swim in these beach waters has been within 10 feet of a shark!
Why Does New Smyrna Beach, FL Have an Issue With Sharks?
New Smyrna Beach has a significant shark attack problem because this beach receives a lot of tourists. The more tourists there are, the higher the chance of people being bitten by sharks. The second factor is sharks often mistake humans as a food source.
When humans are swimming, sharks see humans kicking their feet and waving their arms, and it resembles fish swimming in the sea. Another contributing factor for these shark attacks is people provoking sharks. Humans can provoke sharks because they feed them, so sharks equate humans with food.
How Many Bites and Attacks Occur on New Smyrna Beach?
The state of Florida has been shark central in the United States for many years, and the number one location for unprovoked shark attacks. Unfortunately, the number of attacks hasn’t declined.
According to the ISAF, Florida represents 24% of the worldwide total for unprovoked shark attacks. From 1837 to now, Florida has had more shark attacks than any other state in the United States, with a total of 828 attacks on record. Of these 828 attacks, 303 of these attacks occurred in Volusia County, Florida.
How Many Deaths Occur Because of Shark Attacks in New Smyrna Beach, Florida?
At the current moment, there has been one fatal shark attack. The rest of these attacks have resulted in minor or major injuries, but not fatal.
Who Is Getting Bitten in New Smyrna Beach, Florida?
Sharks don’t attack a particular type of person. These attacks are often caused by a human’s movements in the water. A 50-year-old woman was bitten twice by the same shark at New Smyrna Beach in Florida. This incident occurred before 11 AM. In a different incident, two people were bitten by a shark on the same day. These shark attacks occurred an hour and a half apart.
The number of fatal shark attacks is minimal compared to the shark attacks that occurred in Florida.
How to Stay Safe While Enjoying the Beach
When you’re enjoying the beach, the last thing you want to do is have your fun ruined by a shark attack. To stay safe, make sure you are dressed appropriately. Also, make sure your feet are covered by wearing sturdy water shoes. Dull swimsuits and wetsuits are best to wear while enjoying the waves.
It’s also a good idea to carry a weapon. A speargun or pole spear will get the job done. Don’t be afraid to conduct research on the sharks in your area. While there are over 300 different species of sharks, few of them are harmful to humans.
