Home / Shark Attacks / 2004 Shark Attacks in 2004 In 2004, the Global Shark Attack File logged 92 shark attacks worldwide — 237.2% above the historical annual average. 14 were fatal (15.2%). United States accounted for the most incidents that year, with 35.
Fatality rate
15.2%
Global avg 21.2%
vs. annual avg
237% above
Hist. avg 27.3/yr
Countries with the most incidents in 2004 Species most often involved in 2004 Counts based on the species field in the Global Shark Attack File. Species identification in incident reports is not always reliable.
Notable incidents in 2004 Pasikudha, Sri Lanka Non-fatal
2004-12-25 · Swept out to sea by the tsunami, she clung to a log for 24 hours · No shark involvement
West Beach, Adelaide, Australia Fatal
2004-12-15 · Scurfing (surfboard being towed behind a boat) · 4.5 m & 5 m white shark
Opal Reef, Australia Fatal
2004-12-10 · Spearfishing · Bull shark
Nahoon, East London, South Africa Non-fatal
2004-11-26 · Surfing · Raggedtooth shark
Gonubie, South Africa Non-fatal
2004-11-25 · Playing · Raggedtooth shark
Fish Hoek, False Bay, South Africa Fatal
2004-11-14 · Swimming · 6 m [20'] white shark
Bunkers, Humboldt Bay, Eureka, Humboldt County, United States Non-fatal
2004-11-10 · Surfing · 5.5 m [18'] white shark
Malakula (Malakula Island), Vanuatu Non-fatal
2004-11-10 · Snorkeling
Koumac, New Caledonia Non-fatal
2004-10-31 · Diving · 3 m shark
Santa Lucia, Cuba Non-fatal
2004-10-30 · Diving · 2.5 m [8.25'] bull shark
Frequently Asked Questions How many shark attacks were there in 2004? ▾ The Global Shark Attack File records 92 shark attacks worldwide in 2004, with 14 fatalities.
What was the shark attack fatality rate in 2004? ▾ 15.2% of shark attacks recorded in 2004 were fatal.
Which countries had the most shark attacks in 2004? ▾ The countries with the most recorded incidents in 2004 were United States (35), Australia (17), South Africa (10).
Which shark species were most often involved in 2004 attacks? ▾ Based on incident records, the most frequently identified species in 2004 were White Shark, Bull Shark, Tiger Shark.
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