The 2021 Shark Attack Map features locations and information on shark attacks and bites across the world during 2021.
Shark attacks/bites are overall rare when compared to the amount of humans in the ocean each day. The majority of shark attacks involve minor injuries, more consistent with a bite, and occur off the Atlantic coast of Florida, where the water is rough and bait fish feed.
Most ocean users will never have any encounter with a shark. When humans enter the ocean, we are in the shark’s home and there are several things that you can do to help prevent a negative encounter. For more information and tips visit Shark Attack Prevention.
Unfortunately, each year we do see several fatal shark attacks. This is often due to bites from large sharks, such as the tiger shark or white shark. The large bite radius of these bigger sharks, can cause significant trauma and result in rapid blood loss and heart attack.
As of Dec. 25 here have been 81 shark attack bites in 2021 (9 fatal shark attack, 6 provoked) publicly reported and verified.
There have been 47 shark attack bite in the US in 2021 (28 Florida, 7 Hawaii, 3 California). One provoked and one fatal.
There have been 18 shark attack bites in Australia in 2021. Three provoked and 3 fatal.
Twenty-eight shark attack bites have been reported in Florida in 2021. Zero provoked and zero fatal.
There have been 7 shark attacks bites in Hawaii. One of which is considered provoked.
Shark attacks by location in Australia:
Western Australia: 8 (0 no injury, 3 provoked), Fatal: 1, Unconfirmed: 0.
Northern Territory: 0 (0 no injury, 0 provoked), Fatal: 0, Unconfirmed 0.
Queensland: 2 (0 no injury, 0 provoked), Fatal: 0, Unconfirmed 0.
New South Wales: 5 (0 no injury, 0 provoked), Fatal: 2, Unconfirmed 0.
South Australia: 0 (0 no injury, 0 provoked), Fatal: 0, Unconfirmed 0.
Victoria: 2 (0 no injury, 0 provoked), Fatal: 0, Unconfirmed 0.
*Spearfishing, feeding sharks, fishing, etc. are considered provoked and listed with a green marker.
**Count does not include possible scavenges
The 2021 Shark Attack Map is best viewed in desktop mode.
MOBILE USERS: The 2021 Shark Attack Map can be opened in full screen mode by clicking the button to expand in the top right of the map. Select Legend on the left side of the 2021 Shark Attack Map to see the list of names and dates along with location and link to more information. Press legend again on mobile to collapse the legend.
Tracking Sharks uses direct local sources and witness reports whenever possible. Due to occasional language barriers and unique locale location names, it is not possible in all cases to find exact locations of shark attacks bites. In such cases, Tracking Sharks will post as close to the believed area as possible. If you see any corrections, please feel free to contact Tracking Sharks.
Previous Shark Attack Maps can be found based on the year 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 .