Gainesville — Experts say 2015 saw a record-setting 98 unprovoked shark attacks worldwide, including 8 in South Africa and 30 in Florida in the US.
The Florida Museum of Natural History released the numbers Monday, 8 February. Scientists say the previous record was 88 attacks in 2000.
International Shark Attack File curator George Burgess says attacks are expected to continue to increase as human populations grow and shark populations recover.
Of the six fatalities last year, two happened off the Indian Ocean island of Reunion; the others occurred off Australia, Egypt, New Caledonia and the United States.
READ: Taking risks on the Island of Reunion
The US led the world with 59 attacks, including those in Florida, eight in each of the Carolinas and seven in Hawaii. California and Texas each had two attacks, and New York and Mississippi each had one.
Australia and South Africa followed the US with 18 and 8 attacks, respectively.
The shark attack which made the biggest waves in 2015 was undoubtedly when three-time world champion surfer, Mick Fanning was attacked by a Great White shark during the final of the J-Bay Open, an international surfing tournament in Jeffreys Bay in the Eastern Cape.
See the terrifying moment, which was broadcast on live television, here:
Here, Fanning escaped unscathed after punching the shark on the nose.
In December last year, another SA surfer in Durban miraculously survived an attack unscathed in Durban.
Here, Grant Wardell, a Durban North man was catapulted from his paddle ski boat by 3-metre-long Great White shark!
SEE: 'It went right past my nose' - Durban Great White shark attack survivor tells his story
Since the widely publicized incident involving the world's number one surf champion, shark safety in SA has been a hot topic, with experts investigation the true safety of South Africa's seawater.
For more on shark attacks and sharks in SA's oceans, see:
Great Whites: How safe are SA's beaches really?
JBay considers sharks spotters and drones following recent Great White scare
Beach safety: Australia and US beaches riskier for shark attacks than SA
New Research: SA's sharks facing serious genetic threat
Share your travel experiences with us. You can email us atinfo@traveller24.co.za or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.