Shark Attacks in 2009

In 2009, the Global Shark Attack File logged 120 shark attacks worldwide — 343.0% above the historical annual average. 13 were fatal (10.8%). United States accounted for the most incidents that year, with 41.

Total recorded

120

Fatal

Fatality rate

10.8%

Global avg 21.1%

vs. annual avg

343% above

Hist. avg 27.1/yr

Countries with the most incidents in 2009

Country	Recorded incidents
United States	41
Australia	28
South Africa	12
New Zealand	6
Vietnam	4

Species most often involved in 2009

Species	Recorded incidents
White shark	13
Bull shark	7
Shark involvement not confirmed	4
Oceanic whitetip shark	3
blacktip or spinner shark	3

Counts based on the species field in the Global Shark Attack File. Species identification in incident reports is not always reliable.

Notable incidents in 2009

2008 All years →2010

Frequently Asked Questions

How many shark attacks were there in 2009?

The Global Shark Attack File records 120 shark attacks worldwide in 2009, with 13 fatalities.

What was the shark attack fatality rate in 2009?

10.8% of shark attacks recorded in 2009 were fatal.

Which countries had the most shark attacks in 2009?

The countries with the most recorded incidents in 2009 were United States (41), Australia (28), South Africa (12).

Which shark species were most often involved in 2009 attacks?

Based on incident records, the most frequently identified species in 2009 were White shark, Bull shark, Shark involvement not confirmed.