Shark Attack Deaths on the Rise

2025 saw a spike in unprovoked shark bites worldwide, with fatalities more than doubling the decade average. The International Shark Attack File (ISAF) confirmed 65 unprovoked shark bites globally, up from 2024’s lower-than-usual total.

What’s Behind the Increase?

Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research, says it’s too early to tell if this surge marks a new trend. Most fatalities occurred in Australia, where shark species and surfer activity may be on the rise. Naylor notes that more years of data are needed to determine if 2025 was just a ‘statistical blip’.

The US recorded the largest share of unprovoked bites, with Florida leading the nation at 11 incidents. The sole US fatality was 55-year-old triathlete Erica Fox, who died during a group swim in California.

Australia ranked second in total unprovoked bites, making up about 32% of global incidents. While the number of unprovoked bites rose in 2025, the total remains within the range observed over the past decade.