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Shark Attacks in Jamaica

The Global Shark Attack File records 32 shark attacks in Jamaica between 1753 and 2025. Of those, 17 were fatal (53.1%). The species most often involved is the tiger shark.

Last recorded shark attack in JamaicaMay 7, 2025 · Rose Hall beachView details →

Total recorded

32

Fatal

17

Fatality rate

53.1%

Global avg 21.2%

Years covered

1753–2025

Recorded incidents by year

Peak 3 (1922)Avg 1.1
1753: 11784: 11808: 11823: 11826: 11888: 11891: 11898: 11906: 11914: 11920: 11922: 31928: 11931: 11941: 11945: 11951: 11961: 11963: 11965: 11969: 11980: 12013: 32018: 12021: 12022: 12024: 12025: 1Average: 1.1 per year
175319412025
28 years of data, 1753–2025
Shark attacks in Jamaica per year, 1753–2025
YearAttacks
17531
17841
18081
18231
18261
18881
18911
18981
19061
19141
19201
19223
19281
19311
19411
19451
19511
19611
19631
19651
19691
19801
20133
20181
20211
20221
20241
20251

Species most often involved in Jamaica

SpeciesRecorded incidents
Tiger Shark3

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

  • Spearfishing5
  • Fishing4
  • Diving4
  • Swimming3
  • Fell overboard2

Recent recorded incidents in Jamaica

Frequently Asked Questions

How many shark attacks have been recorded in Jamaica?
The Global Shark Attack File records 32 shark attacks in Jamaica, of which 17 were fatal.
What is the shark attack fatality rate in Jamaica?
53.1% of recorded shark attacks in Jamaica are fatal, compared with a global average of 21.2%.
Which shark species are most often involved in attacks in Jamaica?
Based on incident records, the species most frequently identified in Jamaica attacks are Tiger Shark.
What activities are most associated with shark attacks in Jamaica?
Spearfishing accounts for the largest share of recorded incidents in Jamaica, with 5 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.