Home / Shark Attacks / 2016 Shark Attacks in 2016 In 2016, the Global Shark Attack File logged 133 shark attacks worldwide — 387.5% above the historical annual average. 6 were fatal (4.5%). United States accounted for the most incidents that year, with 65.
Fatality rate
4.5%
Global avg 21.2%
vs. annual avg
387% above
Hist. avg 27.3/yr
Countries with the most incidents in 2016 Species most often involved in 2016 Counts based on the species field in the Global Shark Attack File. Species identification in incident reports is not always reliable.
Notable incidents in 2016 Avalon State Park Beach, North Hutchinson Island, St Lucie County, United States Non-fatal
2016-12-26 · Surfing
Bundegi Sanctuary Zone, Ningaloo, Australia Non-fatal
2016-12-23 · Snorkeling · a small shark
Keurbooms Lagoon, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa Non-fatal
2016-12-18 · Surf skiing · White shark, 4 m
Trigg Beach, Australia Non-fatal
2016-12-13 · Free diving
New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County, United States Non-fatal
2016-12-10 · Surfing · Shark involvement not confirmed
Takapoto Atoll, French Polynesia Non-fatal
2016-12-10 · Fishing
Merimbula, Australia Non-fatal
2016-12-05 · Surf fishing · Wobbegong shark, 2m
Booti Booti National Park, Australia Non-fatal
2016-11-30 · Surfing · White shark
Queenscliff, Australia Non-fatal
2016-11-27 · Fishing · Broadnose sevengill shark, 1.5 m
Chicuque Beac Maxixe City, Mozambique Non-fatal
2016-11-16 · Body Recovery
Frequently Asked Questions How many shark attacks were there in 2016? ▾ The Global Shark Attack File records 133 shark attacks worldwide in 2016, with 6 fatalities.
What was the shark attack fatality rate in 2016? ▾ 4.5% of shark attacks recorded in 2016 were fatal.
Which countries had the most shark attacks in 2016? ▾ The countries with the most recorded incidents in 2016 were United States (65), Australia (32), New Caledonia (5).
Which shark species were most often involved in 2016 attacks? ▾ Based on incident records, the most frequently identified species in 2016 were White Shark, Tiger Shark, Bull Shark.
Shark Data Lab