Emotional statements and media reports sensationalise sharks and shark attacks create paranoia and do little to inform the public of the truth about shark behaviour. We must turn fear into respect for these much maligned animals.

Common Misconception

• All sharks are dangerous
• Sharks only attack when hungry
• There are a lot of deaths from shark attacks
• Sharks lurk off the beaches only to attack, kill and maim humans

Attack Theories

Whale Shark

There are over 482 species of shark worldwide and 182 species occur in Australian waters, but only a handful are known to be dangerous to humans. There are several theories as to why sharks attack humans including theories such as hunger, inquisitiveness (i.e., testing an object with their teeth to see if it is edible) or possibly disrupted breeding behaviour. There is also the 'rogue' sharks (an injured shark unable to feed and attacks humans), however, there is no scientific evidence to support this theory. Some attacks may be mistaken identity, others may be related to the invasion of the shark's personal space by the human. It is not know what the motivating factor is but more scientific research may uncover a common factor in the future.

Attacks on People

The collective term “attack” refers to provoked and unprovoked encounters recorded on the ASAF but only unprovoked attacks are referred to in ASAF comments.  The types of sharks implicated in the majority of unprovokd attacks on humans in Australian waters include Tiger, White and Whaler Sharks (including the Bull Shark) all of which are capable of inflicting much more damage than they do. The majority of people are bitten and released, which may indicate the shark is not biting to procure food in the majority of cases or what they have mistaken a person as their normal prey and call off the attack when they taste the difference.

Known Dangerous Sharks

The following animals have been identified in fatal unprovoked shark attacks on humans in Australia:

• White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias)
• Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)
• Whaler Sharks (Carcharhinus sp) (several species occur in Australia with one known as the Bull Shark)

Potentially Dangerous Sharks

The following sharks are considered potentially dangerous because of their size:

• Wobbegong (Orectolobus sp)
• Hammerhead (Sphyrna sp)
• Blue Shark (Prionace glauca)
• Mako (Isurus sp)

Remember - any large animal must be considered potentially dangerous to humans (on land or in the sea).