Out of more than 500 shark species, only three are responsible for a double-digit number of fatal, unprovoked attacks on humans: the great white, tiger, and bull.

The study suggests that only where an expert validates the predatory intent of a shark would it be appropriate to term a bite incident an attack.

[10][11] Postmortem scavenging of human remains (typically drowning victims) are also not accorded "provoked" or "unprovoked" status.

[10][11] There are three subcategories of unprovoked attack: An incident occurred in 2011 when a 3-meter long (~500 kg) great white shark jumped onto a 7-person research vessel off Seal Island, South Africa.

The crew were undertaking a population study using sardines as bait and initially retreated to safety in the bow of the ship while the shark thrashed about, damaging equipment and fuel lines.

To keep the shark alive while a rescue ship towed the research vessel to shore, the crew poured water over its gills and eventually used a pump for mechanical ventilation.

The shark was ultimately lifted back into the water by crane and, after becoming disoriented and beaching itself in the harbor, was successfully towed out to sea.

[14] Large shark species are apex predators in their environment,[15] and thus have little fear of any creature (other than orcas[16]) with which they cross paths.

[18] Nonetheless, a single bite can grievously injure a human if the animal involved is a powerful predator such as a great white or tiger shark.

[19] A shark will normally make one swift attack and then retreat to wait for the victim to die or weaken from shock and blood loss, before returning to feed.

[21] Sharks are equipped with sensory organs called the Ampullae of Lorenzini that detect the electricity generated by muscle movement.

[26] The 2016 yearly total of 81 shark attacks worldwide was on par with the most recent five-year (2011–2015) average of 82 incidents annually.

This is much higher than the worldwide shark attack fatality rate, which is currently about 16%, according to Florida State Museum of Natural History.

[42] Several factors have contributed to the unusually high attack and fatality rates, including pollution from sewage runoff[43] and a (now closed) local slaughterhouse.

The increased use of technology has enabled Australia and the United States to record more data than other nations, which could somewhat bias the results.

For example, an average of more than 38 people die annually from lightning strikes in coastal states, while less than 1 person per year is killed by a shark in Florida.

For example, in the southwest of Western Australia the chances of a surfer being fatally bitten by a shark in winter or spring are 1 in 40,000 and for divers it is 1 in 16,000.

[33] In comparison to previous years, ISAF reported a total of 57 unprovoked shark bites worldwide in 2022, which is lower than the past five-year average of 70 incidents annually.

Out of more than 480 shark species, only three are responsible for two-digit numbers of fatal unprovoked attacks on humans: the great white, tiger and bull.

[7] These sharks, being large and powerful predators, may sometimes attack and kill people, even though all have been filmed in open water by unprotected divers.

Uncostumed humans, however, such as those surfboarding, light snorkeling or swimming, present a much greater area of exposed skin surface to sharks.

In addition, the presence of even small traces of blood, recent minor abrasions, cuts, scrapes, or bruises, may lead sharks to attack a human in their environment.

Sharks seek out prey through electroreception, sensing the electric fields that are generated by all animals due to the activity of their nerves and muscles.

[57] Modern-day statistics show the oceanic whitetip shark as seldom being involved in unprovoked attacks.

Infamous examples of oceanic whitetip attacks include the sinking of the Nova Scotia, a British steamship carrying 1,000 people that was torpedoed by a German submarine on 18 November 1942, near South Africa.

In a painful but not directly life-threatening incident, a long-distance swimmer crossing the Alenuihaha Channel between the islands of Hawai'i and Maui was attacked by a cookiecutter shark.

[63] Shark barrier design has evolved from rudimentary fencing materials to netted structures held in place with buoys and anchors.

When deployed in sheltered areas, shark barriers offer complete protection and are seen as a more environmentally friendly option as they largely avoid bycatch.

[67][75][76] A drum line is an unmanned aquatic trap used to lure and capture large sharks using baited hooks.

[94] Jaws had a significant impact on people and gave them an unrealistic view of sharks, causing them to fear them more than they probably should.