Home / Shark Attacks / 1956 Shark Attacks in 1956 In 1956, the Global Shark Attack File logged 51 shark attacks worldwide — 86.9% above the historical annual average. 21 were fatal (41.2%). Papua New Guinea accounted for the most incidents that year, with 12.
Fatality rate
41.2%
Global avg 21.2%
vs. annual avg
87% above
Hist. avg 27.3/yr
Countries with the most incidents in 1956 Species most often involved in 1956 Counts based on the species field in the Global Shark Attack File. Species identification in incident reports is not always reliable.
Notable incidents in 1956 Samarai Island (south end), Papua New Guinea Fatal
1956-12-25 · Spearfishing · 2.4 m [8'] tiger shark caught 40 hours later with shorts of the boy in its gut
Samarai Island, Papua New Guinea Fatal
1956-12-23 · Spearfishing
Owendo, Gabon Fatal
1956-12-14 · Swimming
North Auckland, New Zealand Non-fatal
1956-12-08 · Fishing · Mako shark, 125-lb
Glencairn, False Bay, South Africa Non-fatal
1956-10-26 · Free diving for sinkers · White shark, according to witnesses
Kapakapa, Papua New Guinea Non-fatal
1956-10-19 · Spearfishing, holding 5' speared fish · 3.7 m [12'] shark
Isle de Gorée, Senegal Non-fatal
1956-10-06 · Skindiving, fish at belt · Lemon shark
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea Fatal
1956-09-30 · Fishing
Daytona Beach, Volusia County, United States Non-fatal
1956-09-22 · Surf fishing · a sand shark
Incident 1956-09-12 Fatal
1956-09-12 · Climbing back on ship · Blue shark
Frequently Asked Questions How many shark attacks were there in 1956? ▾ The Global Shark Attack File records 51 shark attacks worldwide in 1956, with 21 fatalities.
What was the shark attack fatality rate in 1956? ▾ 41.2% of shark attacks recorded in 1956 were fatal.
Which countries had the most shark attacks in 1956? ▾ The countries with the most recorded incidents in 1956 were Papua New Guinea (12), Australia (10), United States (9).
Which shark species were most often involved in 1956 attacks? ▾ Based on incident records, the most frequently identified species in 1956 were White Shark, Tiger Shark, Lemon Shark.
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