DEATHS BY SHARK ATTACKS WILL DOUBLE IN 2011
Twelve people have died, the highest figure in the last two decades, as tourists venture into more remote locations
MIAMI (USA) 02.08.2012 - The number of deaths from shark attacks worldwide has doubled in 2011 over the previous year, according to a study released by the University of Florida, in which nearly one in five people attacked by the shark was killed.
The International Register of attacks that entity shows that last year 75 people were attacked (7.4% less than in 2010) and that 12 of them died, representing the highest figure in the last two decades.
Three of those deaths were registered in Australia, two took place on the island of Réunion, the same as in the Seychelles and South Africa, and one occurred in Costa Rica, Kenya and New Caledonia, respectively.
The figures show that tourists are venturing to places more remote and that the deaths occurred mainly in places where the quality and quantity of care available is reduced, as explained by George Burgess, director of that recorded.
Those responsible for these areas "have no history of shark attacks and have no contingency plans and in other places like Florida," said shark expert.
Burgess said in a statement that almost one in five people last year attacked worldwide by sharks died, but noted that in the United States, which did not register any death, there is a steady decline in accident rate.
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The list of the 75 shark attacks reported last year was led by the United States with 29, although the fifth consecutive year observed a decrease in unprovoked attacks on humans, according to the expert. Australia was ranked second with 11 attacks, followed by South Africa, with 5, Meeting, 4, Indonesia, Mexico and Russia, with 3 each, and Seychelles and Brazil, with 2 attacks.
In addition to two other attacks in the open sea, there was also an attack in Antigua, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Kenya, New Caledonia, New Zealand, New Guinea, Puerto Rico, Tahiti, Turks and Caicos.
Surfers were the ones mainly were involved in these incidents, with 60 percent of cases. Of all the attacks in the United States, 11 occurred in Florida and these 6 took place in Volusia County, on the east coast, a water recreation area popular with surfers.
Burgess said that with regard to the decline in attacks in this country, people would argue that there are fewer sharks, but actually said shark populations began to recover slowly from the late 90's.
For the expert this decline is "a good and bad news," because, first, "from the perspective of the University of Florida things have never been better, our rates continue to drop attacks and accidents."
However, on the other hand, it could also mean that less water is used by swimmers because "the economy is down, which could suggest that other areas have made a better effort to access the tourism market," he explained. ABC