Shark Attacks in 1979

In 1979, the Global Shark Attack File logged 25 shark attacks worldwide — 7.7% below the historical annual average. 8 were fatal (32.0%). United States accounted for the most incidents that year, with 9.

Total recorded

Fatal

Fatality rate

32.0%

Global avg 21.1%

vs. annual avg

8% below

Hist. avg 27.1/yr

Countries with the most incidents in 1979

Country	Recorded incidents
United States	9
South Africa	7
New Caledonia	3
Hong Kong	2
Portugal	1

Species most often involved in 1979

Species	Recorded incidents
White shark	4
White shark?	1
6' shark	1
Raggedtooth shark	1
"a small shark"	1

Counts based on the species field in the Global Shark Attack File. Species identification in incident reports is not always reliable.

Notable incidents in 1979

1978 All years →1980

Frequently Asked Questions

How many shark attacks were there in 1979?

The Global Shark Attack File records 25 shark attacks worldwide in 1979, with 8 fatalities.

What was the shark attack fatality rate in 1979?

32.0% of shark attacks recorded in 1979 were fatal.

Which countries had the most shark attacks in 1979?

The countries with the most recorded incidents in 1979 were United States (9), South Africa (7), New Caledonia (3).

Which shark species were most often involved in 1979 attacks?

Based on incident records, the most frequently identified species in 1979 were White shark, White shark?, 6' shark.