Home / Shark Attacks / 1959 Shark Attacks in 1959 In 1959, the Global Shark Attack File logged 93 shark attacks worldwide — 240.9% above the historical annual average. 24 were fatal (25.8%). United States accounted for the most incidents that year, with 27.
Fatality rate
25.8%
Global avg 21.2%
vs. annual avg
241% above
Hist. avg 27.3/yr
Countries with the most incidents in 1959 Species most often involved in 1959 Counts based on the species field in the Global Shark Attack File. Species identification in incident reports is not always reliable.
Notable incidents in 1959 Scotts Point Beach, Australia Non-fatal
1959-12-28 · Paddling · 3.7 m [12'] tiger shark
Leichardt, Sydney, Australia Non-fatal
1959-12-27 · Fishing · 2.4 m [8'] shark
Kaparoka, Papua New Guinea Fatal
1959-12-25 · Swimming underneath house on pilings
Balud, Philippines Fatal
1959-12-18 · ship M.V. Rizal sank during typhoon
Off Wynnum in Moreton Bay, near Brisbane, Australia Fatal
1959-12-18 · Dived from dinghy to retrieve oar in heavy seas
Altona, Melbourne, Australia Non-fatal
1959-12-10 · Spearfishing, Smith & Walker touched shark with tip of their guns · 2.7 m [9'] shark
Laura Bay, Australia Non-fatal
1959-12-06 · Spearfishing · Invalid
Moko Hinau, New Zealand Non-fatal
1959-12-02 · Fishing for snapper · Mako shark, 4.3 m [14']
Incident 1959-11-30 Fatal
1959-11-30 · 17 Maldivians adrift in open boat for 31 days
Fairhaven Beach, Lorne, Australia Non-fatal
1959-11-28 · Body surfing · 3.5 m [11.5'] shark
Frequently Asked Questions How many shark attacks were there in 1959? ▾ The Global Shark Attack File records 93 shark attacks worldwide in 1959, with 24 fatalities.
What was the shark attack fatality rate in 1959? ▾ 25.8% of shark attacks recorded in 1959 were fatal.
Which countries had the most shark attacks in 1959? ▾ The countries with the most recorded incidents in 1959 were United States (27), Australia (20), Papua New Guinea (9).
Which shark species were most often involved in 1959 attacks? ▾ Based on incident records, the most frequently identified species in 1959 were White Shark, Tiger Shark, Blue Shark.
Shark Data Lab