iStockphoto
Australia has historically trailed only the United States when it comes to the countries that record the most shark attacks on an annual basis. Summer is in full swing in The Land Down Under, and officials in one state have told people looking to cool off to head to a pool instead of the ocean after four bites were recorded in the span of two days.
The International Shark Attack File has not released its report concerning the unprovoked incidents that were documented in 2025. However, based on the data compiled by the Shark Research Institute, it appears there was a rise in the number of people bitten compared to the previous year: close to 60 worldwide as opposed to 47 in 2024.
The United States usually reigns supreme on that particular front, but there’s a chance Australia could end up seizing the crown based on the numbers the aforementioned institute tracked in 2025; at least 20 shark attacks were recorded in its waters compared to the 17 in the USA (up from nine and down from 28 in 2024, respectively).
There’s no telling how things will pan out in 2026, but Australia is well on its way to coming out on top again based on the spate of attacks that recently unfolded just a few weeks after the new year rolled around.
Officials in New South Wales have told people to swim in a pool instead of the ocean after four shark attacks transpired in just two days
The stretch from Memorial Day to Labor Day tends to mark the peak of Shark Attack Season in the United States, as there’s a spike in both the number of aquatic predators and people who head to its waters during the warmer months of the year.
That’s when winter rolls around in the Southern Hemisphere, which means December, January, and February tend to be the biggest offenders when it comes to shark attacks in Australia—and this year is certainly no exception.
According to The Guardian, officials in New South Wales are grappling with a spate of attacks that began when a 12-year-old boy suffered critical injuries to both of his legs after being bitten in Sydney Harbor on January 18th.
An 11-year-old boy in Dee Why was scared but unscathed when another shark chomped on his surfboard on the 19th, but unfortunately, the same cannot be said for a 27-year-old surfer who suffered what were described as “life-changing injuries” after being bitten on the leg in Manly on the same day.
The trend continued on the 20th, as a 39-year-old surfer who was catching waves off the shore at Limeburners Creek National Park was also hospitalized with minor injuries.
Officials say bull sharks are likely responsible for all four of those incidents, as heavy rains in the southeastern region of Australia have contributed to the brackish water they thrive in. Multiple beaches in the state have been closed as a result, and Steven Pearce, the CEO of the water safety group Surf Life Saving, told people to avoid the ocean entirely for the immediate future, saying:
“If anyone’s thinking of heading into the surf this morning, anywhere along the northern beaches, think again.
“We have such poor water quality that’s conducive to bull shark activity. We have two people critically injured in hospital this morning. Just go to a local pool, because at this stage, we’re advising that the beaches are unsafe.”
Here’s to hoping the victims are able to make a full recovery and other people heed that advice.