Five facts about shark attacks

A woman watched her father being mauled to death by a shark on Saturday while the pair were diving off the Australian island state of Tasmania, police said. The last fatal attack off the Australian coast occurred in February. Here are some facts about shark attacks

1. Killer sharks

Three shark species account for 85% of attacks recorded on humans. They are: great white shark, bull shark and tiger shark.

2. Why they attack?

The fish often confuse people with their normal prey due to poor visibility. Surfers are often attacked as they spend maximum time in water.

3. Attacks on the rise

The most likely explanation is the everincreasing amount of time spent in the sea by humans, which increases the opportunities for interaction between the two affected parties.

4. How to fight back

Hit the shark in the nose or claw at its eyes and gill openings, to fight back. Avoid swimming during or after storms, which can make the water cloudy and churn up the bait fish that lead to shark feeding frenzies.

5. Shark attack capital of the world

The US has the largest number of shark attacks, mostly in Florida, particularly in New Smyrna Beach in Volusia County. Last year, nearly 15% of the shark bites worldwide, was reported here. Australia has a large share of shark attacks, followed by South Africa, Brazil and New Zealand.