Home / Shark Attacks / 1987 Shark Attacks in 1987 In 1987, the Global Shark Attack File logged 35 shark attacks worldwide — 28.3% above the historical annual average. 6 were fatal (17.1%). United States accounted for the most incidents that year, with 15.
Fatality rate
17.1%
Global avg 21.2%
vs. annual avg
28% above
Hist. avg 27.3/yr
Countries with the most incidents in 1987 Species most often involved in 1987 Counts based on the species field in the Global Shark Attack File. Species identification in incident reports is not always reliable.
Notable incidents in 1987 Off Manila, Philippines Fatal
1987-12-19 · Ferry boat Dona Paz with 4431 passengers exploded & caught fire when she collided with an oil tanker
Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, United States Non-fatal
1987-12-16 · Surfing · 1.8 m [6'] blacktip shark
Shoalhaven, Australia Non-fatal
1987-12-12 · Shark involvement prior to death was not confirmed
North of Jupiter Inlet, Palm Beach County, United States Non-fatal
1987-11-20 · Surfing
St. Lucia, South Africa Non-fatal
1987-10-31 · Shark involvement prior to death was not confirmed
Davenport Light, San Mateo County, United States Non-fatal
1987-10-25 · Surfing · 2 m [6.75'] shark
Richards Bay, South Africa Non-fatal
1987-10-24 · Boogie boarding · Questionable incident
Seal Island, False Bay, South Africa Non-fatal
1987-10-10 · Spearfishing · White shark
Mona Passage, Dominican Republic Fatal
1987-10-05 · Vessel caught fire & capsized, survivors in the water · 40 to 50 sharks attacked survivors in the water
Merino Rocks, Adelaide, Australia Fatal
1987-09-17 · Scuba Diving for scallops · White shark
Frequently Asked Questions How many shark attacks were there in 1987? ▾ The Global Shark Attack File records 35 shark attacks worldwide in 1987, with 6 fatalities.
What was the shark attack fatality rate in 1987? ▾ 17.1% of shark attacks recorded in 1987 were fatal.
Which countries had the most shark attacks in 1987? ▾ The countries with the most recorded incidents in 1987 were United States (15), South Africa (7), Australia (5).
Which shark species were most often involved in 1987 attacks? ▾ Based on incident records, the most frequently identified species in 1987 were White Shark, Blacktip Shark, Bronze Whaler.
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