Shark attacks show new fall

The number of fatal and nonfatal shark attacks worldwide dropped in 2005, continuing a five-year trend, the director of the International Shark Attack File said today.

There were 58 total attacks in 2005, compared to 65 in 2004, while the number of fatal attacks dropped from seven to four, said George Burgess, director of the shark attack programme, which is housed at the University of Florida’s Museum of Natural History.