BOSTON - In the entire United States, each year there are only 16 shark attacks per year, compared to the total of lightning strikes, 41, that kill Americans each year. And in total there have been less than 100 recorded deaths since 1900.
The waters of New England are just as safe as any, with most sharks being relatively harmless, such as the Basking Shark and the Whale Shark, and of the three main perpetrators of shark attacks, Great Whites, Tiger, and Bull Sharks, most are uncommon in the area.
"While sharks kill fewer than 20 people a year, their own numbers suffer greatly at human hands," said Brian Handwerk, a shark expert, "but between 20 and 100 million sharks die each year due to fishing activity."
The largest shark, the Whale Shark, can grow up to 60 feet long, but luckily only feeds on plankton.
The last major shark incident in New England was earlier this year, when a large Great White attacked a swimmer of the coast of Cape Cod, but he was able to leave the hospital in a cast and bandaged leg a few days later, able to joke about his experience.
Unless the life gaurd informs you of a shark sighting, it is relatively safe to assume that the waters of New England are safe to swim in (from sharks, anyways). Be sure to stay safe and always swim with supervision.
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