Home / Shark Attacks / 2008 Shark Attacks in 2008 In 2008, the Global Shark Attack File logged 122 shark attacks worldwide — 347.2% above the historical annual average. 10 were fatal (8.2%). United States accounted for the most incidents that year, with 60.
Fatality rate
8.2%
Global avg 21.2%
vs. annual avg
347% above
Hist. avg 27.3/yr
Countries with the most incidents in 2008 Species most often involved in 2008 Counts based on the species field in the Global Shark Attack File. Species identification in incident reports is not always reliable.
Notable incidents in 2008 Port Kennedy Beach, Australia Non-fatal
2008-12-29 · Crabbing · No shark involvement
Port Kennedy Beach, Australia Fatal
2008-12-26 · Snorkeling · 4 to 5m white shark
near Schouten Island, Australia Non-fatal
2008-12-26 · Yacht race · 2 m shark
Seal Rocks, Australia Non-fatal
2008-12-26 · Boogie Boarding
Long Reef, north of Sydney, Australia Non-fatal
2008-12-26 · Kayaking · White shark, 4m to 5m
Dillon Beach, Marin County, United States Non-fatal
2008-12-19 · Kayaking · White shark
Maraetai, New Zealand Non-fatal
2008-12-13 · Fishing · Bronze whaler shark?
Plettenberg Bay, South Africa Non-fatal
2008-12-09 · Fishing · Raggedtooth shark, 2m
Chidenguele, Mozambique Fatal
2008-11-30 · Spearfishing · Zambesi shark?
Elphinstone Reef, Egypt Non-fatal
2008-11-27 · Scuba diving · Oceanic whitetip shark
Frequently Asked Questions How many shark attacks were there in 2008? ▾ The Global Shark Attack File records 122 shark attacks worldwide in 2008, with 10 fatalities.
What was the shark attack fatality rate in 2008? ▾ 8.2% of shark attacks recorded in 2008 were fatal.
Which countries had the most shark attacks in 2008? ▾ The countries with the most recorded incidents in 2008 were United States (60), Australia (20), South Africa (8).
Which shark species were most often involved in 2008 attacks? ▾ Based on incident records, the most frequently identified species in 2008 were White Shark, Bull Shark, Tiger Shark.
Shark Data Lab