Home / Shark Attacks / 2002 Shark Attacks in 2002 In 2002, the Global Shark Attack File logged 88 shark attacks worldwide — 222.5% above the historical annual average. 10 were fatal (11.4%). United States accounted for the most incidents that year, with 49.
Fatality rate
11.4%
Global avg 21.2%
vs. annual avg
223% above
Hist. avg 27.3/yr
Countries with the most incidents in 2002 Species most often involved in 2002 Counts based on the species field in the Global Shark Attack File. Species identification in incident reports is not always reliable.
Notable incidents in 2002 Great Barrier Reef (near Upolu Bay), Australia Non-fatal
2002-12-28 · Snorkeling · Reported to involve a hammerhead shark
Scarborough, South Africa Non-fatal
2002-12-23 · Snorkeling · White shark, 4 m white shark
Depth of 40 m on the wreck of the St. Paul off Brisbane, Australia Non-fatal
2002-12-20 · Scuba diving · Wobbegong shark, 1m
Golden Beach, Australia Non-fatal
2002-12-19 · Swimming · Shark involvement not confirmed, injury may be due to a stingray
Miami Lake, Australia Fatal
2002-12-15 · Swimming · Bull shark
Boa Viagem Beach, Recife, Brazil Fatal
2002-11-30 · Surfing
Salmon Creek, Sonoma County, United States Non-fatal
2002-11-27 · Body boarding · 3 m to 4.5 m [10' to 15'] white shark
Pision Reef, Truk, Micronesia Non-fatal
2002-11-27 · Scuba diving · Blacktip shark
Ka'anapali, United States Non-fatal
2002-11-16 · Swimming · 2.4 m to 3 m [8' to 10'] grey colored shark
French Cay, Turks & Caicos Non-fatal
2002-11-13 · Snorkeling · 1.8 m to 2.1 m [6' to 7'] Caribbean Reef Shark
Frequently Asked Questions How many shark attacks were there in 2002? ▾ The Global Shark Attack File records 88 shark attacks worldwide in 2002, with 10 fatalities.
What was the shark attack fatality rate in 2002? ▾ 11.4% of shark attacks recorded in 2002 were fatal.
Which countries had the most shark attacks in 2002? ▾ The countries with the most recorded incidents in 2002 were United States (49), Australia (13), Brazil (7).
Which shark species were most often involved in 2002 attacks? ▾ Based on incident records, the most frequently identified species in 2002 were Tiger Shark, Bull Shark, White Shark.
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