suspected case in New Jersey have piqued interest in an age-old summer question for beachgoers — is it safe to go in the water?Scientists and researchers who study sharks said the overwhelming answer to that question is yes, it is safe.
Potentially dangerous interactions between humans and sharks are uncommon, and serious injuries and deaths from the bites are vanishingly rare, scientists said.Nonetheless, the dramatic nature of shark bites and the stories of survivors, such as Hawaii surfer Mike Morita's tale of fighting off a shark in April, capture the imagination.
It's a good idea to remember just how rare shark bites truly are, scientists said. Related A local girl is recovering from what officials believe to be a shark bite she suffered while surfing along the Jersey coast days before beachgoers head to the water for the unofficial start of summer.HOW OFTEN DO SHARK BITES OCCUR?There have been typically around 70 to 80 unprovoked shark bites annually, worldwide, over the past decade.
And not only are shark bites rare, they've been especially rare recently.There were only 57 unprovoked bites last year, and five of those were fatal, according to University of Florida's International Shark Attack File.