Shark Attacks      

To demystify sharks and dispel the "Jaws" image it is critical that accurate data about shark attacks is assembled and disseminated. The Global Shark Attack File (GSAF), created by and for medical personnel, is maintained by SRI staffers. By taking the subject of shark attack “out of the closet” and

providing public access to the Incident Log, GSAF has become a powerful tool for shark conservation. The GSAF case files consist of more than 3,600 incidents involving divers, surfers, swimmers and fishermen, and provides verifiable references. GSAF also has a network of investigators throughout the world that actively investigate these accidents.

The GSAF case files are consulted by physicians and surgeons treating shark attack victims. In areas experiencing a high incidence of shark attack, GSAF provides consultants to local authorities in order to determine the causes and seek an ecologically-sound method to reduce the risk of such accidents. If you have ever been bitten by a shark or witnessed a shark accident, please contact us. If you spot a newspaper article about a shark incident, please send it to us.

If you know of an attack, please use the reporting form (available here)(PDF). Answer as many of the questions as possible, and when you are unable to answer a question leave it blank and move on to the next question.