Recent Long Island Shark Attack is Latest Incident in 2025; Where the Most Shark Attacks Have Taken Place So Far

A shark attack has occurred off the coast of Long Island, marking the third unprovoked U.S. attack for 2025. Luckily, the incident only resulted in minor injuries to the 20-year-old victim. She was wading in waist deep waters at Jones Beach State Park just after 4pm when something bit her lower leg. Though she couldn’t see what was responsible for the bite, an investigation led by the Department of Environmental Conservation determined it was likely a juvenile sand tiger shark.

There’s nothing scarier than a shark in the water. It’s the stuff nightmares are made of and has served as a potent horror symbol in movies like “Jaws” and “Open Water.” Sharks may be dangerous apex predators, attacking around 100 people yearly, but their attacks are not always intentional. Most shark attacks are cases of mistaken identity, freak incidents, or bite tests (how sharks explore or test organisms and objects in the water). That said, some places have more shark attacks than others.

No matter the motive, shark attacks can result in lost limbs or even death. Luckily, in the grand scheme of things, these incidents are pretty rare. According to statistics from the International Shark Attack File, there have been over 3,000 confirmed unprovoked shark attacks worldwide since 1958, with more than 400 of these being fatal. Overall, worldwide incidents have been on a sharp decline in the past decade. As noted by one researcher, however, the climate conditions that bring people to the beach also bring sharks into shallow water. Let’s explore places with the most shark attacks so far in 2025.

This post was updated July 3, 2025 to include the recent shark attack in Long Island.

United States

There have been three shark attacks in the United States in 2025. One was reported in Florida and was considered unprovoked and non-fatal. The second attack occurred in Hawaii. While it was not fatal, it was classified as a provoked attack. According to the State of Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources website, the incident happened approximately three miles off the Oʻahu shore. The victim was swimming when they received several lacerations to their left arm from a Galapagos shark.

As mentioned previously, the most recent shark attack occurred off the coast of Long Island. The non-fatal attack left the victim with only minor injury and experts believe the shark responsible was a sand tiger shark.

Although alarming, these numbers are considerably lower than those from last year. Hawaii had four shark attacks in 2024, one of which proved fatal. Florida had 14 shark attacks last year, but even those numbers are considerably lower than in previous years.

Israel

In an incredibly rare incident, a man was killed by a shark in April off the coast of Israel in the sea at Hadera, about 25 miles north of Tel Aviv. The attack was captured on video, with the victim flailing in the water as people on shore shouted for help. No one is sure how the 40-year-old man became a victim, but it’s the first fatal shark attack in the history of Israel. It’s also the fourth documented shark attack since the country’s founding in 1948.

The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos

Two notable shark attacks in the Caribbean were reported this year, both of which occurred on February 7th. In the morning, a Canadian tourist was bitten and injured by a six-foot shark near Providenciales beach in Turks and Caicos while attempting to take pictures of the creature. In the evening, near Bimini Bay in the Bahamas, two American tourists were bitten by a shark. While swimming in the water, Rileigh Decker, 20, and Summer Layman, 24, suffered non-fatal bites. Both were treated for their injuries and flown to Florida for further medical care.

New Caledonia

A tragic, fatal shark attack occurred in New Caledonia at the start of the year. According to this report, a 40-year-old man was spearfishing with his family near Kendek Islet when he was attacked. The victim suffered severe lacerations to his arm before succumbing to his injuries. This marked the first fatal shark attack in New Caledonia since 2023.

Mexico

Mexico has had one confirmed shark attack incident so far in 2025. The incident occurred near the island of Banco Chinchorro off the eastern coast of Mexico on February 23rd. A fisherman was bitten on the leg by an unidentified shark while removing fishing nets from the water.

Australia

Australia, known for its dangerous wildlife, has had the most shark attacks of any country so far in 2025. Plus, its coasts are a known hotspot for various shark populations. There have been nine shark attacks in Australia so far in 2025, two of which were considered “provoked,” and three of which were fatal. The first attack of the year proved fatal; 28-year-old Lance Appleby was pulled underwater by a shark while surfing near Streaky Bay. The second attack occurred on January 23rd, when a twelve-year-old suffered minor bites to their lower body while swimming off the coast of Perth.

In the following months, additional non-fatal attacks occurred along Australia’s coast, including a calf bite near Portland on February 27th, another bite near Perth on March 27th, and several more leg bites in locations such as Byron Bay and Sydney. Tragically, two additional people were killed in Australia during attacks in 2025, bringing the total number of fatalities to three so far this year. First, on February 3rd, 17-year-old Charlize Zmuda suffered fatal injuries from an attack near Woorim Beach in Queensland. Next, on March 10th, 37-year-old Steven Payne was pulled under while standing in the water off the coast near Cape Arid National Park.