Fatal Shark Attacks

We had quite a few reports of sightings locally last summer. And there are still plenty of sharks within biting distance in Florida. But fatal shark attacks are down in the US...and up in the rest of the world.

There were 75 global shark attacks in 2011 according to Livescience.com. In the US, there were 29 attacks, with 11 in Florida.

The director of the International Shark File attributes the spike in global shark-attack fatalities to tourists visiting more remote locales.

There have been a number of fatalities in out-of-the-way places where there's not the same quantity and quality of medical attention readily available.  Since these places don't have histories of shark attacks there are not contingency plans in effect like there are in places like Florida, where at least if you're bitten you have a shot at getting rescued and taken to a hospital fast enough to be saved.