Shark attacks are on the rise. Time Magazine speaks with Marine Biologist, Carl Meyer, on the subject.

In 2012, there were 53 unprovoked shark attacks in the United States, the most since 2000, according to a report published by the University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File. 26 of these recent attacks occurred in Florida, more than any other state. Across the globe, 80 unprovoked attacks occurred, with 7 of those attacks proving fatal. That makes 2012 a particularly deadly year. Between 2001 and 2011, only 4.4 people on average were killed worldwide by shark attacks.

The University of Florida’s shark attack statistics report comes out as the world mourns the passing of filmmaker Adam Strange, who was attacked last week while swimming off the coast of Auckland, New Zealand. Witnesses report seeing a great white shark nearly 4 meters long in the vicinity of the attack site. The attack was the first fatal shark attack in New Zealand since 1976.

Cover Photo Credit: ryn413 / Flickr.com