1978 Shark Attacks: Global Statistics & Year in Review | Shark Data Lab
Home / Shark Attacks / 1978 Shark Attacks in 1978 In 1978, the Global Shark Attack File logged 26 shark attacks worldwide — in line with the historical annual average. 2 were fatal (7.7%). United States accounted for the most incidents that year, with 10.
Fatality rate
7.7%
Global avg 21.1%
vs. annual avg
in line with
Hist. avg 27.1/yr
Countries with the most incidents in 1978 Species most often involved in 1978 Counts based on the species field in the Global Shark Attack File. Species identification in incident reports is not always reliable.
Notable incidents in 1978 Bribie Island, Australia Non-fatal
1978-12-28
Sodwana, South Africa Fatal
1978-12-11 · Spearfishing · White shark, 2.3 m [7.5'], tooth fragment recovered
Ewa, O'ahu, United States Non-fatal
1978-11-25 · Surfing · 2.4 m [8'] shark
Jupiter, Palm Beach County, United States Non-fatal
1978-11-22 · Surfing
Fishing camp, St. Lucia Estuary, South Africa
Frequently Asked Questions How many shark attacks were there in 1978? ▾ The Global Shark Attack File records 26 shark attacks worldwide in 1978, with 2 fatalities.
What was the shark attack fatality rate in 1978? ▾ 7.7% of shark attacks recorded in 1978 were fatal.
Which countries had the most shark attacks in 1978? ▾ The countries with the most recorded incidents in 1978 were United States (10), South Africa (8), Australia (3).
Which shark species were most often involved in 1978 attacks? ▾ Based on incident records, the most frequently identified species in 1978 were White Shark, Blacktip Shark, Blue Shark.
Non-fatal
1978-10-20 · Fishing · Shark involvement prior to death was not confirmed
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