Hollywood has capitalized on the fear of sharks with classic hit movies such as “Jaws,” where a great white preys on innocent, unsuspecting beach-goers, firmly establishing that we never know what may be lurking in the water.
Nonetheless, Americans flock to the beaches in Florida, South Carolina, or Hawaii every year. And while a recent study found that great white sharks have become increasingly abundant along the Atlantic coast this year, unprovoked shark attacks are relatively uncommon.
According to the International Shark Attack File, there were 47 unprovoked shark attacks in the United States in 2013, and 72 unprovoked attacks worldwide. In general, the number of worldwide, unprovoked shark attacks has grown steadily since 1900, with each decade having more attacks than the previous. But according to the International Shark Attack File, this number probably has more to do with an increasing amount of time humans spend in the ocean.
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