Home / Shark Attacks / 2012 Shark Attacks in 2012 In 2012, the Global Shark Attack File logged 117 shark attacks worldwide — 328.8% above the historical annual average. 9 were fatal (7.7%). United States accounted for the most incidents that year, with 64.
Fatality rate
7.7%
Global avg 21.2%
vs. annual avg
329% above
Hist. avg 27.3/yr
Countries with the most incidents in 2012 Species most often involved in 2012 Counts based on the species field in the Global Shark Attack File. Species identification in incident reports is not always reliable.
Notable incidents in 2012 Sanibel Island, Lee County, United States Non-fatal
2013-03-31 · a small shark
Jensen Beach, Martin County, United States Non-fatal
2012-12-30 · Swimming
Between Dee Why and Long Reef, Australia Non-fatal
2012-12-29 · Surfing · 2.5 m shark
Kylie's Beach, Diamond Head, Australia Non-fatal
2012-12-27 · Paddle boarding · Bull shark, 2m
Port St. John's, South Africa Fatal
2012-12-24 · Swimming · Tiger shark
Sunday Cove, Fiordland, New Zealand Non-fatal
2012-12-20 · Scuba diving · Seven-gill shark
Trigg Beach, Australia Non-fatal
2012-12-18 · Surfing · Tiger shark, 6'
Kauai, United States Non-fatal
2012-12-04 · Surfing · 10' shark
Green Island, Australia Non-fatal
2012-12-01 · Spearfishing · Sandtiger shark
Kihei, Maui, United States Non-fatal
2012-11-29 · Snorkeling · Tiger shark, 10'
Frequently Asked Questions How many shark attacks were there in 2012? ▾ The Global Shark Attack File records 117 shark attacks worldwide in 2012, with 9 fatalities.
What was the shark attack fatality rate in 2012? ▾ 7.7% of shark attacks recorded in 2012 were fatal.
Which countries had the most shark attacks in 2012? ▾ The countries with the most recorded incidents in 2012 were United States (64), Australia (26), South Africa (5).
Which shark species were most often involved in 2012 attacks? ▾ Based on incident records, the most frequently identified species in 2012 were White Shark, Tiger Shark, Bull Shark.
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