Man on Florida’s northeast coast is recuperating after being bitten by a shark this weekend, marking the third shark attack in state waters over the past month.
Authorities reported that the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit responded to a distress call on Friday morning. They found the victim in critical condition aboard a boat, suffering from a severe shark bite on his right forearm, according to a social media post from the sheriff’s office.
The incident occurred in the Amelia River near Fernandina Beach, about 35 miles north of Jacksonville. The victim was bitten after catching the shark while fishing, according to sheriff’s office public affairs officer Alicia Tarancon.
Officers applied a tourniquet before transporting the victim to shore, where he was airlifted to a local hospital, as reported by The Florida Times-Union. As of Sunday, the victim was alert and continuing to recover at the hospital.
A Spike in Shark Attacks
This attack is the third in Florida in June. Earlier in the month, two shark attacks in the Florida Panhandle injured three people, prompting temporary beach closures in Walton County.
Nationally, there have been three other shark attacks recently—one in Southern California and two in Hawaii, with one resulting in death.
Stephen Kajiura, a professor of biological sciences at Florida Atlantic University specializing in sharks, commented on the unusual number of attacks. He attributed the spike to increased beachgoers during the summer and warmer waters.
“You’re going to have a higher probability of something happening because more people are coming to the beach,” Kajiura said. “It is strange to get so many bites in quick succession, but when you consider the number of people in water right now, it’s not that unusual.”
Kajiura also noted that small bait fish, which sharks feed on, swimming closer to the beach, could be a factor in increased shark activity. Additionally, a resurgence in some shark species could mean more sharks are present in the water.
Shark Activity Patterns
Experts explain that shark activity peaks during warmer months and during seasonal migrations in the fall and spring along the coast. Despite the recent attacks, fatalities are rare.
Florida leads the world in shark bites, recording 16 unprovoked incidents last year, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s annual shark attack report. This represents 44 percent of the 36 unprovoked bites in the U.S. in 2023 and a little less than a quarter of incidents worldwide.
Safety Tips for Swimmers
Kajiura advises swimmers not to avoid the water but to remain vigilant. He recommends avoiding flashy jewelry or watches that may resemble fish scales, swimming in groups, and choosing areas with lifeguards. Swimmers should also avoid areas with schools of fish, where sharks may be lurking.
“You’ve probably been in the water with sharks before, and you didn’t know it,” he said. “Just be careful.”
