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Shark Attacks in Canada

The Global Shark Attack File records 14 shark attacks in Canada between 1691 and 2021. Of those, 4 were fatal (28.6%). The species most often involved is the white shark.

Last recorded shark attack in CanadaAugust 12, 2021 · Cape Breton IslandView details →

Total recorded

14

Fatal

4

Fatality rate

28.6%

Global avg 21.2%

Years covered

1691–2021

Recorded incidents by year

Peak 1 (1691)Avg 1.0
1691: 11860: 11874: 11888: 11891: 11920: 11925: 11932: 11936: 11953: 12000: 12012: 12021: 1Average: 1.0 per year
169119252021
13 years of data, 1691–2021
Shark attacks in Canada per year, 1691–2021
YearAttacks
16911
18601
18741
18881
18911
19201
19251
19321
19361
19531
20001
20121
20211

Species most often involved in Canada

SpeciesRecorded incidents
White Shark3
Porbeagle1
Salmon Shark1

Counts based on the species field in the Global Shark Attack File. Species identification in incident reports is not always reliable.

Activities most associated with incidents

  • Fishing2
  • Surfing1
  • Diving for sea urchins1
  • Fishing for lobsters1
  • Harpooned shark1

Recent recorded incidents in Canada

Frequently Asked Questions

How many shark attacks have been recorded in Canada?
The Global Shark Attack File records 14 shark attacks in Canada, of which 4 were fatal.
What is the shark attack fatality rate in Canada?
28.6% of recorded shark attacks in Canada are fatal, compared with a global average of 21.2%.
Which shark species are most often involved in attacks in Canada?
Based on incident records, the species most frequently identified in Canada attacks are White Shark, Porbeagle, Salmon Shark.
What activities are most associated with shark attacks in Canada?
Fishing accounts for the largest share of recorded incidents in Canada, with 2 cases logged.
Where does this shark attack data come from?
All figures are derived from the Global Shark Attack File (GSAF), a non-profit database of shark-human incident records. Shark Data Lab cleans, geocodes, and aggregates the GSAF dataset for analysis.