Seven islands in the world with the most shark attacks, how many do you know?

Sharks are the top predators in the ocean, often preying on small fish, seahorses, and other small animals in the ocean's vast ecosystem, and occasionally on humans. Although shark attacks on humans are relatively rare, shark attacks on humans occur around the world every year, and in this issue, we take a look at the seven islands with the most shark attacks in the world.

Reunion Island, Indian Ocean

Reunion Island is located on the dangerous "shark highway" in the Indian Ocean, bordering Madagascar to the west and Mauritius to the northeast. The island is in shark-infested waters, and its aquatic ecosystem and coral reefs make the coastline an attractive habitat for sharks. Residents and visitors to Reunion Island are prohibited from swimming in the waters surrounding the island to deter shark attacks.

According to Forbes' annual Global Shark Attack Summary, between 1913 and 2018, there were 56 shark attacks on Reunion Island, including 27 fatalities. The island is known to have the highest rate of shark-related deaths per million people, surpassing South Africa and the United States, which are close behind.

Long Island, New York, USA

In recent years, about half of the world's recorded shark attacks have occurred near the United States. The dense population of Long Island, New York, and the frequent use of the shoreline by residents and tourists are among the factors that contribute to the high incidence of shark attacks in the area. Long Island extends into the Atlantic Ocean, from where sharks swim to the shoreline. The warm, clear water and the availability of fish for sharks to feed on have influenced the number of sharks near the island's shores. The most common shark on Long Island is the ferocious great white shark. Other common shark species include tiger sharks, basking sharks, and blue sharks, which use the island's estuaries as a habitat for their young during the summer months. It is important to note that it is considered illegal to hunt sharks on Long Island.

Maui, Hawaii

Maui has the highest number of shark attacks in the Hawaiian Islands; approximately 70 shark attacks have been reported along its coastline, with Makena Beach having the highest number of attacks. This shark-infested island is the second largest in the state after Hawaii, with a land area of approximately 1,883 square kilometers. While the coastline attracts tourists every year, it also provides suitable habitat for sharks. The most common shark found along the Maui coastline is the tiger shark. Along with their cousins, the bull shark, and great white shark, tiger sharks are considered aggressive, and they are likely to attack humans for no apparent reason.

Hawaii's Big Island

Nicknamed "The Big Island," Hawaii Island covers 10,432.5 square kilometers and is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. As the name implies, it is the largest island in the United States. As with the other Hawaiian islands, different species of sharks are attracted to the island's coastline, and there are about 40 known species of sharks in the state's waters. 22 shark attacks occurred here between 1995 and 2020. One of them, Kona Beach, is one of the most popular beaches on the Big Island, and as such has more shark attacks than any other beach.

Oahu, Hawaii

Oahu has the second highest number of shark attacks of the 137 Hawaiian Islands. Some 42 shark attacks have been recorded here, many of which occurred at Kamala Beach.

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, on the continent of Oceania. New Guinea is considered to be the largest tropical island in the world, covering an area of approximately 462,840 square kilometers. The island is known to have had about 48 shark attacks since 1848. The main reason for shark attacks on the island is that some locals practice a behavior called "shark calling" to lure sharks close to their boats and catch them, which also results in a large number of shark attacks.

Fraser Island, Australia

Fraser Island is the sixth largest island in Australia and the largest sand island in the world. Covering an area of about 1,143 square kilometers, the East Australian island is a World Heritage-listed island. Its tropical rainforests, mangroves, dunes, woodlands, variety of birds, and beaches make it a popular destination for tourists and sharks alike. The shallow waters of Australia's island beaches are home to great whites, tiger sharks, reef sharks, and bull sharks, among other shark species. The east coast of the island is the most shark-infested area. The last reported shark attack off the coast of Fraser Island occurred in 2020 when a man was spearfishing in the Indian Ocean.