Home / Shark Attacks / 1976 Shark Attacks in 1976 In 1976, the Global Shark Attack File logged 39 shark attacks worldwide — 42.9% above the historical annual average. 6 were fatal (15.4%). United States accounted for the most incidents that year, with 18.
Fatality rate
15.4%
Global avg 21.2%
vs. annual avg
43% above
Hist. avg 27.3/yr
Countries with the most incidents in 1976 Species most often involved in 1976 Counts based on the species field in the Global Shark Attack File. Species identification in incident reports is not always reliable.
Notable incidents in 1976 Caloundra, Australia Non-fatal
1976-12-28
San Miguel Island, Santa Barbara County, United States Non-fatal
1976-12-17 · Diving for abalone (Hookah, submerged) · White shark, 5.5 m [18']
Clifton, South Africa Non-fatal
1976-11-26 · Thrashing the water / imitating the shark victim from "Jaws" · White shark, 3 m [10'] k
Southport Bar, Australia Non-fatal
1976-11-25 · Shark involvement prior to death was not confirmed
Delray Beach, Palm Beach County, United States Non-fatal
1976-11-24 · Surfing · 2.1 m [7'] lemon shark or bull shark
Warner Beach, South Africa Non-fatal
1976-11-22 · Swimming · Questionable incident
Macassar, South Africa Non-fatal
1976-10-31 · Fishing for white shark · White shark, 4.8 m
Gordon’s Bay, South Africa Non-fatal
1976-10-26 · Boat · White shark
Moonstone Beach, Humboldt County, United States Non-fatal
1976-10-17 · Surfing · White shark, 3 m to 4 m [10' to 13']
Cape St. Francis, South Africa Non-fatal
1976-10-05 · Surfing · White shark, 3.5 m [11.5'], species identity confirmed by tooth fragment
Frequently Asked Questions How many shark attacks were there in 1976? ▾ The Global Shark Attack File records 39 shark attacks worldwide in 1976, with 6 fatalities.
What was the shark attack fatality rate in 1976? ▾ 15.4% of shark attacks recorded in 1976 were fatal.
Which countries had the most shark attacks in 1976? ▾ The countries with the most recorded incidents in 1976 were United States (18), South Africa (12), Australia (5).
Which shark species were most often involved in 1976 attacks? ▾ Based on incident records, the most frequently identified species in 1976 were White Shark, Lemon Shark, Blue Shark.
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