Shark Attack File Clarification from us Shark Attack Survivors
Many people wonder why our information is so much different than the information from the International Shark Attack File (ISAF).
We both start off getting reports of shark attack. We both investigate and confirm the incident happened. At this point the number of attacks is pretty much equal. In 2013 we have reports of 120 incidents while the ISAF investigated 125.
The ISAF takes it one step further and tries to confirm the incident was not provoked by a human and the incident meets their guidelines to become a confirmed to be unprovoked shark attack. In 2013 they were able to confirm 72 of the 125 investigated shark attacks met their guidelines. It does not mean there were only 72 shark attacks in 2013 it only means there were 72 shark attacks that met their guidelines.
This table will show you how the 125 attacks were divided up in 2013 by the ISAF.
| Shark Attacks & Shark Attack Related Incidents | ||
| 2013 | ||
| No Shark Involved | 6 | Investigated & Could not Confirm Shark Involvement. |
| Confirmed Unprovoked | 72 | Investigated & Confirmed & Confirmed Unprovoked. |
| Provoked | 28 | Investigated & Confirmed. |
| Not Enough Evidence | 11 | Investigated & Confirmed but could not confirm Unprovoked. |
| Marine Vessel / Boat | 4 | Investigated & Confirmed. |
| Air or Sea disaster | 2 | Investigated & Confirmed. |
| Scavenged | 2 | Investigated & Confirmed. |
| Investigated Total | 125 | Investigated not Reported |
If you minus the “no shark involvement” (6) from the ISAF 125 they have 119 incidents involving sharks while we have 120 we are both even closer.
We ask all ocean goers to use some common sense prior to entering the ocean. Do your own investigation for the area you plan to visit and the activity you plan to participate in. You set your own guidelines for the information that’s important to you and remember only 15% of the world reports shark attacks. 90% of all reported incidents happen at English speaking countries who believe in freedom of the press.
Here is a good example of how the ISAF guidelines might differ from your guidelines.
12/02/2013 – Patrick Briney – Hawaii – *** Fatal *** Patrick was fishing for little baitfish with his feet dangling in the water. Bam big shark rips off his foot and he dies. This incident does not meet the ISAF guidelines so it is not counted in all those fancy graphs, tables, and charts. Persons kayak fishing should take notice don’t dangle your feet in the water while fishing. Even if Patrick wasn’t fishing this incident would not meet the ISAF guidelines, he was in a vessel or boat attack.
Learn from our experiences we don’t want to add your name to our SAS sites or see you referenced as a number in next year’s summary.
2013 ISAF shark attack summary
If you should have any questions contact us or contact the ISAF they supply these figures every year. We just made them a little easier to understand.
There was a shark attack last evening in Plymouth, MA with 2 girls on kayaks, both knocked into the water, although the shark attacked the kayak, both girls were knocked into the water but unharmed! They say it was a Great White 12-16′ long, they were taking pictures of seals, & earlier in the day at 1 pm, a woman on a kayak reported watching a Great White attack a seal!
I wouldn’t be there!
They go into the boat attacked classification as far as science is concerned a kayak is a non motorized vessel. We at SAS don’t put them their, but science does.
Just wow, look at all of the ignorant comments on this site.The ocean isn’t a swimming pool, nor does it belong to us. We are terrestrial animals. You enter the ocean at your own risk. I think it’s ridiculous that people on this site are blaming the Sharks. That’s like walking into a Lions enclosure, getting attacked and then blaming the Lion. It’s your choice, it is not an unavoidable encounter. If you don’t want to get attacked, don’t go in the ocean. Simple as that.
Thank You Alex! If those ladies saw a sea lion being attacked by a white shark that is a BIG CLUE TO GET OUT OF THE WATER
Its the humans that create these marine protected areas Alex. The dumb shark doesnt know any better. Yes when we go in the ocean we take that risk. But its the increasing risk of shark attack since 2000′ thats being hidden from the public. Yours is the ignorant comment. You have no idea mate…all you can see is ‘save the shark’ like the rest of the world.
In Australia we have had 7 shark attack fatals since Nov 23rd 2013′ Thats hundreds of people without heir loved one this Xmas and every other FOREVER..
Is 7 dead humans in one year ok with you Alex? Thats just Australia.
You wana see some truth read this site from start to finish.
http://www.australiansharkattacksfile.com
Terrestrial…lol…what is that crap. We come from the WATER….HELLO????
Glen Folkard
Shark Attack Survivor-Investigator
Glen, I understand being a little bitter. I am sorry and remember your shark attack from a few years ago. Now, the total coastline is about 35,000 Km(or 22,000 miles) in Australia. That is a lot of ocean for swimmers/divers/surfers. This is not counting all the islands, just the mainland. I was looking through the files, and while attacks seem to have gone up in WA, they have declined or remained the same in most other areas going back to the 1800’s. I saw a series of attacks in most decades, depending on what area. In the USA, we have 1/2 of the coastline and just as many attacks and fatalities as you all do with more then twice as much shoreline.
Plus, we use no nets or culling (maybe Hawaii a few times). My point is you seem to be trying to blame a lot of causes, other then simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I simply don’t think killing the sharks will be the/an answer. We simply have a lot larger population using the water then in anytime in history. I went to that site, and it seems to be a largely hyped/conspiracy type site, then hard actual facts and science. I have dived for 25 years and outside of one very small shark, I’ve never seen one (does not mean they were not there). I’m not sure if I am lucky or not? Not seeing them means a decline in populations in my book. Good luck to you in finding peace.
Hi, I just found your post, my husband was Patrick Briney, he died by a shark. Thank you for your post. Kathy