Why Shark Attacks Are Much Rarer In Europe Than America

From the powdery white sands of the Bahamas to the rocky coastlines of California, beaches worldwide attract millions of tourists every year looking to relax and soak up some sunshine. However, despite the allure that these seaside destinations might have, the joy of swimming in the open sea also comes with its own set of potential dangers lurking just beneath the surface — especially when it comes to its feared inhabitants.

And although destinations like Florida, Hawaii, and Australia's coastal regions regularly make headlines for shark encounters, there's one region that remains remarkably peaceful in comparison: the Mediterranean. Bordering popular holiday destinations like Spain, Italy, and Greece, this beautiful stretch of sea experiences significantly fewer shark attacks than American coastlines.

Don't be mistaken, though — Europe's waters aren't entirely shark-free, and roughly 50 species of sharks inhabit the Mediterranean Sea. However, shark encounters with humans still remain exceptionally rare, primarily due to declining populations. In fact, according to historical data, only 36 shark attacks have been recorded in the Mediterranean over the past 150 years — with 18 of these proving fatal. Nonetheless, when you consider the millions of people who swim in these waters annually, protecting yourself from sharks while swimming at most European beaches becomes a minimal concern.

So, how come there's such a stark difference between European and American shark attack rates? Well, one of the primary reasons is the dramatic decrease in Mediterranean shark population. As a matter of fact, some experts estimate that there's been a whopping 90% reduction in sightings over the last 30 years (per Schengen News) — which makes these encounters much less likely. This decline is primarily due to decades of intensive commercial fishing, habitat destruction, and pollution, all of which have devastated the shark populations that once thrived in these waters.

Additionally, there's also the issue with species distribution and how most of the species present in European waters are very different from the more aggressive varieties commonly found along American coastlines. While the Mediterranean hosts predators like blue sharks — which despite their size and speed, have been involved in very few attacks on humans — and the occasional great white (of which only 10 sightings have been reported in the past 30 years according to The Telegraph, mostly around Italian beaches), most of these creatures are actually deep-sea dwellers that rarely approach swimmers. Other common Mediterranean shark species include the basking shark, which grows up to 40 feet but feeds only on plankton; the shortfin mako, known as the fastest shark in the ocean and one of the biggest shark species ever caught; hammerheads; and various smaller species like catsharks and dogfish.

By comparison, American waters — particularly around popular beachside destinations in Florida, California, and Hawaii — host larger populations of potentially dangerous shark species, including bull sharks, tiger sharks, and a much higher number of great whites. Unlike their less chomp-happy Mediterranean counterparts, these species tend to be more territorial and aggressive toward anything they perceive as a threat, which ultimately contributes to the higher attack rates and fatalities.