"Humans have been afraid of sharks since long before “Jaws” and “The Meg” patrolled summer movie screens. Whether it’s the teeth or the lifeless eyes, something about them can just make your blood run cold.
Marine biologists are quick to say this fear is way out of proportion. Lightning strikes and bear attacks are more common than shark bites, they say. Of the more than 500 species of shark, only a handful have ever attacked humans, and most bites in the United States can be traced to just four species.
Even in Hawaii, which has the highest number of recent shark-related deaths, you are at least 130 times more likely to drown than die by a shark. There were only 36 unprovoked shark attacks in the United States in 2023, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History; they caused two deaths.
But risk is a funny thing, and knowing the numbers rarely makes you feel better — especially after watching “Sharknado.” So this summer The New York Times asked a simple question: What can you do to make your chance of a shark attack even smaller?"
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