DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. — There have been 11 reported shark attacks in Florida this year.
Experts with the University of Florida said even though shark attacks may seem to be on the rise that’s not necessarily the case. They said it’s not that sharks are becoming more violent, but that more people are flocking to the beach.
Experts also said many of the bites are relatively small and by smaller species. One of the latest attacks happened earlier this month in Daytona Beach when a 10-year-old boy was attacked in waist-deep water.
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Shark attacks reported by county:
- Brevard – 4
- Collier – 1
- Indian River – 1
- Miami Dade – 1
- Volusia – 4
- Duval – 1 (unconfirmed)
None of the attacks results in any deaths.
UF experts believe that because of habitat loss and overfishing shark populations are actually declining in many areas of the world.