Map of hotspots: Where there are the most shark attacks

A deep laceration on the calf of an 85-year-old tourist triggered a shark alert in Ballermann. Media are already speculating that a blue shark may have been responsible for the attack, as such fish have been seen in the waters off Mallorca. Experts doubt the shark theory, and the bite wound tends to contradict this theory.

Whatever caused the wound, the Mediterranean is hardly a hotspot for shark attacks. The International Shark Attack File (ISAF), a research project at the Florida Museum of Natural History, has recorded just four attacks there in the past ten years. The victims survived in all four attacks. It has never been determined which shark bit the victim. In other regions of the world, however, attacks occur significantly more frequently.

The United States and Australia have led the way in unprovoked shark attacks for years. Their coasts are hunting grounds for great white sharks and tiger sharks, the two most common species in fatal attacks on humans. Attacks also occur occasionally in the Red Sea, at the popular swimming and diving spots off the Egyptian coast. Tiger shark bites, in particular, are often fatal there.

Overall, however, shark attacks are an extremely rare occurrence. According to ISAF, the average is just over 60 unprovoked attacks per year, very few of which are fatal. Considering the millions of bathers, surfers, swimmers, and divers each year, the risk of being bitten by a shark is extremely low.

Great white sharks, tiger sharks, and bull sharks form the "Big Three": attacks by these species are not only frequently recorded, they also often result in fatalities. This is hardly surprising, given that they are very large animals. Bull sharks average about two and a half meters in length, while tiger sharks and great white sharks grow to about four to five meters, and in some cases can reach up to seven meters in length. Even a quiz bite without the intention of feeding can result in serious injuries. Furthermore, these three shark species regularly frequent waters where humans are present.

However, in the vast majority of attacks, the species of shark remains unknown. This is partly due to the fact that many species are difficult to identify. Great white sharks, tiger sharks, and bull sharks appear so frequently in the statistics because they are so easy to identify.

The situation is more difficult with the diverse species of requiem sharks, which also includes blue sharks. According to the International Shark Attack File, requiem sharks were responsible for 90 unprovoked attacks on humans between 2014 and 2024, none of which were fatal.

Most attacks occur in coastal waters, where sharks hunt. These are usually sandbars or steep reefs. Swimmers and surfers are among the most common victims.

According to ISAF researchers, there are three main types of unprovoked attacks:

1. "Bite and disappear": In this most common form, swimmers or surfers are typically the targets. They usually don't see the shark coming, which attacks with lightning speed from below, usually biting only once before disappearing again. In such cases, the predator probably mistakes humans for its usual prey, aggravated by poor visibility in the water—or by strong waves, which surfers prefer.
2. "Poke and bite": This rarer form often affects swimmers or divers in deeper waters. The shark first circles its victim and then begins to poke it with its snout. When it then attacks, it often bites multiple times. Severe injuries result, and the victims often die.
3. “Sneak attacks”: These are similar to the poke and bite attack, but occur without warning, i.e. without circling and prodding.

Researchers suspect that the second and third forms are not prey misconceptions on the part of the shark, but rather deliberate attacks, either to feed or to fight rivals. They probably often occur in the context of ship or aircraft accidents, when survivors are adrift on the high seas.

The researchers at the International Shark Attack File offer several tips on how to reduce the risk of a shark attack – or how to react in the worst case scenario.

• Don't swim alone: Sharks are cautious hunters and are less likely to attack large groups than individuals. Therefore, it's best to stay close to the coast, where there are more people in the water—and where help can be reached more quickly if needed.
• Don't swim at dusk or in the dark: Sharks prefer to hunt early in the morning or in the evening and are particularly active then. They also have an even greater perceptual advantage over humans in the dark.
• Avoid areas with abundant fish: Sharks like to hunt where there are plenty of fish. A good indicator of such areas are diving seabirds or areas where humans also commonly engage in commercial fishing.
• Don't wear jewelry: The iridescent reflections of jewelry in the water can appear to sharks like fish scales. This can lead to serious confusion.
• Punching and kicking: In the extremely unlikely event that a shark does attack, don't freeze in fear. Punches to the nose, ideally with a hard object, can cause the predator to temporarily release its grip, at best giving it an opportunity to escape from the water. If the shark does bite, scientists recommend grabbing the sensitive eyes or gills.