Feb. 14, 2026, 5:02 a.m. ET

Florida saw the most shark attacks out of any other state in 2025.

The International Shark Attack File, run by the Florida Museum of Natural History, classifies the attacks as provoked or unprovoked based on if a human initiated the contact.

There were 28 shark attack bites in the United States in 2025, five provoked and one fatal, according to TrackingSharks.com.

Here’s what to know about shark bites on the Treasure Coast and how to stay safe when swimming at the beach.

Shark bites on the Treasure Coast

Since 1998, there have been 76 shark bites, two of which were fatal. There have been no reported shark bites this year, the last reported shark bite on the Treasure Coast was in 2024 at Bathtub Beach in Martin County.

The 2024 bite was the second time Cole Taschman had been bitten by a shark — at the same beach, 11 years apart.

Database: Shark bites on the Treasure Coast since 1998

How many shark attacks happened in Florida in 2025?

Out of the 28 shark attack bites, 15 were in Florida, the most out of any state. Four of the shark attack bites were provoked and none were fatal.

Hawaii had three, California had three one of which was fatal, Texas had two, North Carolina had two, South Carolina had two on the same day and New York had one, according to TrackingSharks.com.

How to reduce the risk of a shark attack

Here are some tips from the Florida Museum of Natural History for reducing your odds of being bitten by a shark:

Swim with a buddyStay close to shoreDon’t swim at dawn or duskDon’t swim around schools of fish or where people are fishingAvoid wearing jewelryAvoid excess splashingWhat to do if you see a shark in the water with you

If a shark gets near you or tries to bite you, here’s what the Florida Museum of Natural History recommends:

If a shark does get near you:Maintain eye contact with the sharkSlowly move away and exit the water if possibleIf the shark tries to bite you:Hit shark in the eyes and gills, these are sensitive areas that can be hurt, regardless of your own personal strengthHit the shark on the snout and push away, water-resistance can weaken a punch

Olivia Franklin is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at olivia.franklin@tcpalm.com, 317-627-8048 or follow her on X @Livvvvv_5.