Fox News Channel offers its audiences in-depth news reporting, along with opinion and analysis encompassing the principles of free people, free markets and diversity of thought, as an alternative to the left-of-center offerings of the news marketplace.
Unprovoked shark bites worldwide increased in 2025, and fatalities rose above the recent decade average, according to the International Shark Attack File . The Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File confirmed 65 unprovoked shark bites globally in 2025, up from a lower-than-usual total in 2024 and closer to the 10-year average of 72 incidents annually.
Twelve of the 2025 incidents were fatal, double the decade average of six unprovoked deaths per year. Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research and curator at the Florida Museum of Natural History, said it is too early to determine whether the increase signals a shift. 'Hard to tell,' Naylor told Fox News Digital. 'Most of the fatalities are in Australia, which may be experiencing both an uptick in some species of sharks and an uptick in surfers exploring new breaks, some of which are quite remote and hard to get to, and an uptick in new ways that humans enjoy water-sports, like foiling.' MASSIVE GREAT WHITE SHARK DETECTED BY RESEARCHERS OFF MISSISSIPPI COAST IN RARE GULF MIGRATION He said additional years of data will be needed to determine whether 2025 represents the start of a trend. 'We will be able to say more if the trend continues in subsequent years,' he said. 'For now, we cannot exclude the notion that it is a statistical ‘blip.’' ISAF investigated 105 alleged shark-human interactions worldwide in 2025. FOLLOW US ON X Of those, 65 were confirmed to be unprovoked. Twenty-nine were classified as provoked, including incidents involving fishing, handling sharks or attempting to touch them. Other cases involved boat strikes or could not be definitively categorized. The United States recorded the largest share of unprovoked bites, accounting for about 38% of the global total. Florida continued to lead the nation with 11 unprovoked attacks, more than twice as many as any other state. The sole fatality in the U.S. was triathlete Erica Fox, 55, whose body was found near Santa Cruz, California, Dec. 21 after she vanished during a group training swim. The coroner ruled the cause of death as 'sharp and blunt force injuries and submersion in water.' GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL Florida reported more incidents than any other U.S. state, though most cases were nonfatal. CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS Australia ranked second in total unprovoked bites, representing roughly 32% of incidents worldwide. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP While the number of unprovoked bites rose in 2025 compared with the previous year, the total remains within the range observed over the past decade, according to the group's annual summary. GOT A TIP? An unprovoked bite is defined as an incident in which a person is bitten in a shark’s natural habitat without prior human interaction. Provoked incidents are tracked separately to maintain consistency in reporting and long-term comparisons.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Kerry Washington & Omar Sy’s 2025 Action Movie Flop Arrives on Netflix TodayA 2025 Kerry Washington movie is officially available to watch now on Netflix, bringing an action thriller starring her and Omar Sy.
Read more »
Guy Pearce & DeWanda Wise’s 2025 Western Movie Out Today on HuluA 2025 supernatural Western film starring Guy Pearce and DeWanda Wise is officially available to stream on Netflix beginning today.
Read more »
Colorado Parolee Charged in Four Killings, Including Alleged 2025 Crime SpreeA Colorado parolee, previously deemed a 'very high' risk, is now facing charges in four separate killings across three counties. The charges include first-degree murder related to an alleged crime spree in 2025 and a second-degree murder charge from 2022. The suspect was released from prison after his risk level was downgraded.
Read more »
Sydney Sweeney's 2025 R-Rated Thriller Is A Must-Watch On Streaming This WeekendTHE HOUSEMAID, Sydney Sweeney
Read more »
Deadly unprovoked shark attacks rise 125% globally in 2025: studyToday's Video Headlines: 03/06/26
Read more »
Vote delayed on whether to restrict Colorado SNAP recipients from buying soft drinksLauren Lennon joined the Denver7 news team in August 2025 as a morning reporter.
Read more »