Home / Shark Attacks / 1996 Shark Attacks in 1996 In 1996, the Global Shark Attack File logged 61 shark attacks worldwide — 123.6% above the historical annual average. 11 were fatal (18.0%). United States accounted for the most incidents that year, with 27.
Fatality rate
18.0%
Global avg 21.2%
vs. annual avg
124% above
Hist. avg 27.3/yr
Countries with the most incidents in 1996 Species most often involved in 1996 Counts based on the species field in the Global Shark Attack File. Species identification in incident reports is not always reliable.
Notable incidents in 1996 Coolum Beach, Australia Non-fatal
1996-12-28 · Surfing
Duck Pond, Sardina Bay near Port Elizabeth, South Africa Non-fatal
1996-12-09 · Surfing · White shark
New Caledonia Fatal
1996-11-30 · Spearfishing
L'llot Maetre, New Caledonia Non-fatal
1996-11-30 · Attempting to attract dolphins
Salmon Creek Beach, Sonoma County, United States Non-fatal
1996-11-28 · Surfing · 3 m to 5 m [10' to 16.5'] white shark
Coral Cove Park, Palm Beach County, United States Non-fatal
1996-11-17 · Surfing
Barra de Jangada, Brazil Non-fatal
1996-10-27 · Surfing
Barra de Jangada, Brazil Non-fatal
1996-10-27 · Surfing
Boragawa Beach, Japan Fatal
1996-10-08 · Swimming or snorkeling
Dillon Beach, Marin County, United States Non-fatal
1996-10-04 · Surfing · 5.5 m to 6 m [18' to 20'] white shark
Frequently Asked Questions How many shark attacks were there in 1996? ▾ The Global Shark Attack File records 61 shark attacks worldwide in 1996, with 11 fatalities.
What was the shark attack fatality rate in 1996? ▾ 18.0% of shark attacks recorded in 1996 were fatal.
Which countries had the most shark attacks in 1996? ▾ The countries with the most recorded incidents in 1996 were United States (27), Australia (12), South Africa (4).
Which shark species were most often involved in 1996 attacks? ▾ Based on incident records, the most frequently identified species in 1996 were White Shark, Tiger Shark, Nurse Shark.
Shark Data Lab