Sharks

January 26, 2023

Question: How often do sharks bite people off the coast of California?

Answer: California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) scientists published a study in December 2022 reviewing all available information on California shark incidents. The study showed there were 201 confirmed shark incidents in California waters between January 1950 and December 2021. Among those incidents, 107 caused non-fatal injuries and 15 were fatal.

On average, there were fewer than three incidents annually. The average annual number of incidents resulting in injury was less than two. The average annual number resulting in fatalities was far less than one. While the annual number of reported shark incidents without injuries has increased since 2004, there did not appear to be an increased risk to ocean users, the study showed.

CDFW uses the word “incident” rather than terms like “bite” or “attack” which imply intent on the part of the shark to knowingly harm or consume a person. Most interactions where sharks bite people can be attributed to exploratory bites in which the shark is investigating an object in its environment, or incidents in which the shark mistakes a person for its natural food source. White sharks have been observed biting many non-food items including kelp, floating debris, and other inanimate objects.

Shark incidents in California remain quite rare. However, as with any wilderness activity, entering the ocean includes risks that must be weighed on an individual basis and given a variety of considerations. Kudos to CDFW scientists John Ugoretz, Elizabeth Hellmers and Julia Coates for their valuable and wide-ranging study.

For more information on white sharks see: wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/White-Shark

CDFW uses the word “incident” rather than terms like “bite” or “attack” which imply intent on the part of the shark to knowingly harm or consume a person.

I'm sure whitey appreciates how we don't imply harmful intent, don't get all up in its feelings 
it was just a harmless lil shark kiss 

 

Yes I read that website and study.  What I found interesting is that the shark encounters detailed by members of NCKA over the years do not show up as incidents in that report.  Was this because they weren't reported? ( I was unable to find an easy way to report shark encounters anywhere on the CADFW website).  Or perhaps because they were not classified as an attack?  If someone were to be bumped by a white shark and then swam back to their kayak and got the heck out of there, would this classify? 

Not that you have the answers here, but I certainly do have a number of questions about that data.

Yes I read that website and study.  What I found interesting is that the shark encounters detailed by members of NCKA over the years do not show up as incidents in that report.  Was this because they weren't reported? ( I was unable to find an easy way to report shark encounters anywhere on the CADFW website).  Or perhaps because they were not classified as an attack?  If someone were to be bumped by a white shark and then swam back to their kayak and got the heck out of there, would this classify? 

Not that you have the answers here, but I certainly do have a number of questions about that data.

I was thinking the exact same thing.

did a light cull of the study.  Of the 201 reported, there's 32 kayak/canoe "incidents" including by one dumb hammerhead that surely didn't mean any harm.  that's 16%!

no doubt the study is incomplete relative to all incidents that go unreported and/or surveyor bias will exclude certain interactions. 
But incidents r increasingly frequent, no surprise, as yakfishing becomes more common

Its dumb for the agency to state intent is unknown even if whitey bumps or takes a bite.  res ipsa, those activities should be presumptive, if not conclusive. 

Wasn't that one listed as fatal unconfirmable?

They classify shark encounters as attacks any longer they are all classified as “incidents”.
Even bumping incidents were getting reported as attacks.


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Yes I read that website and study.  What I found interesting is that the shark encounters detailed by members of NCKA over the years do not show up as incidents in that report.  Was this because they weren't reported? ( I was unable to find an easy way to report shark encounters anywhere on the CADFW website).  Or perhaps because they were not classified as an attack?  If someone were to be bumped by a white shark and then swam back to their kayak and got the heck out of there, would this classify? 

Not that you have the answers here, but I certainly do have a number of questions about that data.

NCKA GWS "Incidents" are included in the study.  Just match the dates. Thats me on July 12, 2012. I was interviewed by the Capitola PD and a Santa Cruz Sheriff deputy. I think but not 100% sure that the other ncka'ers were interviewed by law enforcement or first responders. Personally, I think using, Incident is more appropriate than Attack because the bites were exploratory and the sharks did not come back for the kayaker as a meal or as a threat.
Here's a few reports and there a few more somewhere in the site.
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=9174.0
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=25902.0
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=34623.0
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=39339.0
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=93203.0