Home / Shark Attacks / 1971 Shark Attacks in 1971 In 1971, the Global Shark Attack File logged 30 shark attacks worldwide — 10.0% above the historical annual average. 8 were fatal (26.7%). Australia accounted for the most incidents that year, with 7.
Fatality rate
26.7%
Global avg 21.2%
vs. annual avg
10% above
Hist. avg 27.3/yr
Countries with the most incidents in 1971 Species most often involved in 1971 Counts based on the species field in the Global Shark Attack File. Species identification in incident reports is not always reliable.
Notable incidents in 1971 Smokey Cape, Australia Non-fatal
1971-12-22
Fish Hoek, False Bay, South Africa Non-fatal
1971-12-15 · Swimming · White shark, 3 m [10']rk
Gladstone, Australia Fatal
1971-12-04
Hong Kong Non-fatal
1971-11-24 · Freedom Swimming
Marineland, Sydney, Australia Non-fatal
1971-10-26
Ft. Pierce, St Lucie County, United States Non-fatal
1971-10-22 · Surfing · 5' to 6' shark
North Beach, Durban, South Africa Non-fatal
1971-10-13 · Swimming · 1.5 m to 2 m shark
Sea Ranch, Sonoma County, United States Non-fatal
1971-10-01 · Scuba diving · White shark, 5 m to 6 m [16.5' to 20']
Emerald Isle, Carteret County, United States Non-fatal
1971-09-24 · Surfing
Ika, Croatia Fatal
1971-09-06 · Swimming · White shark
Frequently Asked Questions How many shark attacks were there in 1971? ▾ The Global Shark Attack File records 30 shark attacks worldwide in 1971, with 8 fatalities.
What was the shark attack fatality rate in 1971? ▾ 26.7% of shark attacks recorded in 1971 were fatal.
Which countries had the most shark attacks in 1971? ▾ The countries with the most recorded incidents in 1971 were Australia (7), United States (6), South Africa (4).
Which shark species were most often involved in 1971 attacks? ▾ Based on incident records, the most frequently identified species in 1971 were White Shark, Porbeagle, Nurse Shark.
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