Home / Shark Attacks / 1988 Shark Attacks in 1988 In 1988, the Global Shark Attack File logged 56 shark attacks worldwide — 105.3% above the historical annual average. 8 were fatal (14.3%). United States accounted for the most incidents that year, with 26.
Fatality rate
14.3%
Global avg 21.2%
vs. annual avg
105% above
Hist. avg 27.3/yr
Countries with the most incidents in 1988 Species most often involved in 1988 Counts based on the species field in the Global Shark Attack File. Species identification in incident reports is not always reliable.
Notable incidents in 1988 Valpariso, Chile Fatal
1988-12-14 · Skindiving · 16' white shark
Off North Keppel Island, off Yeppoon, Australia Fatal
1988-11-07 · The Christie V sank on 11/6/1988, survivors were adrift on a dinghy
Off North Keppel Island, off Yeppoon, Australia Fatal
1988-11-06 · The Christie V sank on 11/6/1988, survivors were adrift on a dinghy
Philippines Fatal
1988-10-23 · The MV Dona Marilyn sank in Typhoon Unsang with the loss of 389 lives
Indian Beach, Ecola State Park, just north of Cannon Beach, Clatsop County, United States Non-fatal
1988-10-22 · Surfing (sitting on his board) · 5.5 m to 6 m [18' to 20'] white shark
Phillip Island, Australia Non-fatal
1988-10-21 · Surfing · 7' shark
Boca Raton, Palm Beach County, United States Non-fatal
1988-10-13 · Surfing · 6' shark
Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, United States Non-fatal
1988-10-10 · Surfing · 1.2 m to 1.5 m [4' to 5'] shark
Playalinda, Brevard County, United States Non-fatal
1988-10-09 · Surfing · 1.2 m to 1.5 m [4' to 5'] shark
Moama Beach, Australia Non-fatal
1988-10-05 · Surfing
Frequently Asked Questions How many shark attacks were there in 1988? ▾ The Global Shark Attack File records 56 shark attacks worldwide in 1988, with 8 fatalities.
What was the shark attack fatality rate in 1988? ▾ 14.3% of shark attacks recorded in 1988 were fatal.
Which countries had the most shark attacks in 1988? ▾ The countries with the most recorded incidents in 1988 were United States (26), South Africa (9), Australia (7).
Which shark species were most often involved in 1988 attacks? ▾ Based on incident records, the most frequently identified species in 1988 were White Shark, Tiger Shark, Bull Shark.
Shark Data Lab