Shark Attack Uncommon in New Hampshire

Sunday’s shark attacks on Amity beaches may cause one to wonder as to the likelihood of such an attack occurring in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire.

“The odds of an attack in New Hampshire are one in a million, perhaps even one in a hundred million,” said Tony LaCasse, shark expert at the New England Aquarium. “You are more likely to die from an insect bite at the beach than to be attacked by a shark.”

With just 18 miles of coastline and only a few months of swimming weather, the infinitesimal odds of shark attack in New Hampshire may come as no surprise. Yet with the hysteria surrounding the tragic deaths of two Amity natives, one may lose sight that such and event is extremely uncommon.

Prior to the incidents, the last reported shark attack in New England occurred in 1936.

There are sharks that frequent the New England coast. According to newenglandsharks.com, the most common species to do so are sandtiger, smooth dogfish, and blue sharks.

“People are not on a shark’s menu,” reassured LaCasse.