The highest rates of CONFIRMED shark attacks is the USA. Click on the country number to show more specifics.
Florida is the largest. All but one Hawaiian Island have recorded shark attacks. The Gulf of Mexico used to be a great source of food for the marine animals in the oceans. The BP Deepwater Horizon changed that. There may be migration of sharks out of the Gulf following the Gulf Stream. They can't find the food they are looking for.
The museum keeps a record of any reported attacks (click here).
It appears from the instructions the museum relies on personal reporting. I think that is fine, but, there is nothing wrong with local or state legislation to report the attacks. Professionals will be more specific in their description. If the reporting was from authorities it might bring greater brevity to the global record.
"...In addition to investigating the environmental factors and activities of the victim and the shark involved in an incident, we are very interested in documenting the medical aspects of an attack...."
The museum is looking for reports both by authorities on the scene which would include witnesses as well as the hospital's report to the injuries.
This type of reporting would also create a better and more specific information and could be a resource to investigators of the causes. Research conducted from such information would appear in professional journals, both professional and medical.
Reporting in that method would add miniscule costs to the agencies involved. It is simply faxing or mailing or calling the museum to provide the needed information. It really would not add much to the reporting, except, at the museum. But, they would be pleased to invest the time.
