Tracking Shark Bites Across FL: New Data

Six unprovoked shark attacks have been reported this year in Florida — in Volusia and Broward counties — out of 11 nationwide, a tracking site says. But there are precautions swimmers can take to minimize the risk of an encounter that can result in a loss of limb or even death.

The 2025 Shark Attack Map says as of July 22 there have been 11 shark attack bites in the U.S. — six in Florida, one in Hawaii, one in North Carolina, one in New York, and two in South Carolina.

Last year, there were 14 non-fatal shark bites in Florida, the leading state for shark attacks, data showed.

Volusia County on the Atlantic coast, which includes the Daytona Beach region, tops the list of shark attacks with 359 confirmed incidents since 1882.

In 2021, Volusia saw the highest number of non-fatal shark attacks with 17. From 2012-21, no one had been killed by a shark bite in the area.

Volusia, dubbed the "shark bite capital of the world," is where a 40-year-old Winter Park surfer was "forcefully" bitten by a shark on July 6 at New Smyrna Beach, WOFL reported.

"I felt it clamp down like a bear trap out of nowhere," Matthew Bender told the TV news outlet. "By the time I looked down, it was already gone. I never saw the shark, but it bit really forcefully. It felt like electricity and like extreme pressure. And then I think it shook its head. I definitely felt that as it was letting go. It was also fast."

Days later, 18-year-old Sam Hollis was bitten by a shark at the same beach on July 18, USA Today reported. He survived.

“I didn't see it beforehand," Hollis told NBC's Today show. "I didn't hear it or anything. It just kind of, you know, yanked me."

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There have been four shark bites in Volusia County so far this year, authorities told USA Today in a report published Monday.

While the central Florida county outpaces all others in the number of shark bites, Brevard County is not entirely too far off, experiencing 159 shark attacks since 1882.

In Broward County, a shark bite left a man with an injury to his upper arm Tuesday at Hollywood Beach, WTVJ reported.

Florida represented 50 percent of the total number of shark bites in the U.S., and 30 percent of unprovoked attacks globally, last year — beating its own five-year annual average of 19 incidents, data showed.

Here are the top 26 Florida counties with shark attacks since 1882:

• Volusia, 359
• Brevard, 159
• Palm Beach, 83
• St. Johns, 46
• Duval, 46
• Martin, 42
• St. Lucie, 39
• Indian River, 23
• Monroe, 21
• Miami-Dade, 20
• Broward, 16
• Pinellas, 15
• Bay, 9
• Collier, 8
• Lee, 8
• Sarasota, 7
• Flagler, 6
• Escambia, 7
• Nassau, 8
• Okaloosa, 4
• Manatee, 5
• Gulf, 2
• Franklin, 2
• Walton, 3
• Charlotte, 1
• Santa Rosa, 1

How Do I Avoid An Encounter With A Shark?

Lemon, bull, great hammerhead and sharpnose sharks are among the most common species found in Florida waters, according to the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Others are blacktip, blacknose, bonnethead, nurse, sandbar, spinner, scalloped hammerhead and tiger sharks, according to the university.

Hundreds of unprovoked shark attacks have taken place from 1882 until modern day in Florida, according to data from the Florida Museum of Natural History's International Shark Attack File.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission offers these shark safety tips:

• Always stay in groups since sharks are more likely to bite a solitary individual.
• Do not wander too far from shore-this isolates an individual and places him or her far away from assistance.
• Avoid being in the water during darkness or twilight hours when sharks are most active.
• Do not enter the water if bleeding from an open wound or if menstruating-a shark's ability to smell blood is acute.
• Wearing shiny jewelry is discouraged. When light reflects off shiny jewelry, it resembles the sheen of fish scales.
• Avoid waters with known discharges or sewage and waters used for any type of fishing-especially if there are signs of baitfishes or feeding activity. Diving seabirds, which frequently feed on baitfishes, are good indicators of such activity.
• While there are myths and anecdotes about dolphins saving humans from shark bites, the presence of dolphins does not indicate the absence of sharks-both often eat the same foods.
• Use extra caution when waters are murky.
• Remember that sharks see contrast particularly well. Uneven tans and bright colored clothing may draw a shark's attention.
• Refrain from excess splashing, as this may draw a shark's attention.
• Do not allow pets in the water: their erratic movements may draw a shark’s attention.
• Be careful when occupying the area between sandbars or near steep drop-offs-these are favorite hangouts for sharks.
• Swim only in areas tended by lifeguards.
• Do not enter the water if sharks are known to be present, and get out of the water if sharks are sighted.
• Never harass a shark.

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