Sharks have never had the best reputation. “Jaws,” “Open Water” and “Shark Attack” are a few of the most popularized interactions of sharks and humans.
UF released Monday its International Shark Attack File annual report, which showed an increase in attacks from 2011 to 2012, with 53 attacks in the United States. About half of the attacks in the U.S. took place in Florida.
George Burgess, director of the Florida program for shark research, said 26 shark attacks was a normal amount for Florida, but the number of attacks in the country was higher than it has been in about 10 years.
He cited the numbers in the U.S. as an oddity. He attributed the Florida numbers to very active ocean involvement, especially because of tourists and an expansive coastline.
“If you stretched out Florida’s coastline, it’d reach to New England,” Burgess said.
The abundance of tourism in Florida means more people in the water flooding sharks out of their environment, he said.
UF mechanical engineering senior and surfer Max Famiglietti, 22, said he will think more about sharks when he’s in the water. Although he’s seen sharks, he’s never been too scared of them, he said.
