Home / Shark Attacks / 1980 Shark Attacks in 1980 In 1980, the Global Shark Attack File logged 36 shark attacks worldwide — 32.0% above the historical annual average. 6 were fatal (16.7%). South Africa accounted for the most incidents that year, with 11.
Fatality rate
16.7%
Global avg 21.2%
vs. annual avg
32% above
Hist. avg 27.3/yr
Countries with the most incidents in 1980 Species most often involved in 1980 Counts based on the species field in the Global Shark Attack File. Species identification in incident reports is not always reliable.
Notable incidents in 1980 Nahoon, South Africa Non-fatal
1980-12-29 · Paddleskiing · 3.5 m [11.5'] shark
Port Elizabeth, South Africa Non-fatal
1980-12-25 · Shark involvement prior to death was not confirmed
Petite-Ile, Reunion Non-fatal
1980-11-23 · Spearfishing · 1.8 m [6'] white shark
Lancelin, Australia Non-fatal
1980-11-17 · Swimming
Mnini, South Africa Non-fatal
1980-11-16 · Swimming · Shark involvement prior to death was not confirmed
Piedade, Brazil Fatal
1980-11-10 · Swimming
Off Umpqua River, United States Non-fatal
1980-10-26 · Surfing · 4 m to 5 m [13' to 16.5'] white shark
Moonstone Beach, Humboldt County, United States Non-fatal
1980-10-16 · Surfing · 4 m to 5 m [13' to 16.5'] white shark
Mexico Fatal
1980-08-21 · Diving in tuna net
Ocean Isle, Brunswick County, United States Non-fatal
1980-08-09 · Wading
Frequently Asked Questions How many shark attacks were there in 1980? ▾ The Global Shark Attack File records 36 shark attacks worldwide in 1980, with 6 fatalities.
What was the shark attack fatality rate in 1980? ▾ 16.7% of shark attacks recorded in 1980 were fatal.
Which countries had the most shark attacks in 1980? ▾ The countries with the most recorded incidents in 1980 were South Africa (11), United States (10), Mexico (2).
Which shark species were most often involved in 1980 attacks? ▾ Based on incident records, the most frequently identified species in 1980 were White Shark, Tiger Shark, Blue Shark.
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