Shark attacks turned deadlier in 2025 — with fatalities spiking 125% worldwide, a new study shows.
There were 65 unprovoked bites and nine deaths from those encounters with the toothsome predator, according to Florida Museum of Natural History’s annual International Shark Attack report.
Only four deaths globally were clocked in 2024.
The US lead the world in unprovoked attacks with 25 last year — including only one fatality, which occurred in California on Dec. 21, when swimmer Erica Fox was pulled under the waters off of Lovers Point in Santa Cruz County, ABC reported.
Florida led the nation with 11 total unprovoked shark bites, which accounted for 17% of bites worldwide.
Several of those bites happened at New Smyrna Beach in Palm Beach County — dubbed the “Shark Bite Capital of the World.”
Surfer Matt Bender nearly had his arm chomped off by an unidentified species of shark on July 7, while riding waves at the infamous line of shore. Bender survived the attack.
Australia saw the second most unprovoked bites and registered the world’s worst five fatalities from the encounters, including three who were killed while surfing.
That includes 57-year-old surfer Mercury Psillakis who was bitten and killed by a large shark off the coast of Sydney on Jan. 25, 2025.
New Yorkers had one unprovoked shark bite and a few close calls, according to reports.
A 20-year-old swimmer at Long Beach Island was bitten by what was likely a juvenile sand tiger shark at Jones Beach State Park on June 27, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation.
She suffered minor, non-life-threatening lacerations to her lower leg.
