A new study by French marine biologists has revealed something surprising—some shark bites on humans are not attacks at all, but acts of self-defense. This finding challenges the way people have long viewed sharks, often as dangerous predators.
According to the researchers, around 5% of all shark bites may be caused by self-defense. The study was published in the journal Frontiers in Conservation Science and gives us a better understanding of how sharks behave, especially when they feel threatened.
The lead author of the study is Dr. Eric Clua, a shark expert from Université PSL in Paris. He and his team studied data from French Polynesia and a global shark bite database called the Global Shark Attack Files.
They found that in many cases, sharks bit humans only after they were provoked or felt threatened. The injuries in such cases were usually non-lethal and appeared to be defensive rather than aggressive.
Dr Clua explained that these bites are not signs of aggression but part of the shark’s natural survival instinct. He said that people should not blame sharks for these bites. “The animal should not be considered at fault when these incidents occur,” Dr. Clua said. “These bites are simply a response to what the shark sees as a threat.”
Shark bites are already rare. Worldwide, there are about 100 shark bites each year, and only around 10 of them lead to death. Statistically, a person is more likely to die from a lawnmower accident than from a shark bite. Still, sharks often have a bad image in the media, and many people fear them unnecessarily.
The research team found that sharks, just like other animals such as bears or large birds, may bite when they feel cornered or disturbed. These defensive bites usually happen in situations where humans are doing things like spearfishing, grabbing sharks, or entering their space. In French Polynesia alone, between 2009 and 2023, there were 74 recorded shark bites. Of those, four were clearly defensive, which matches the estimated global rate of around 5%.
The case studies from the research help explain this better. In 2016, two fishermen at Makemo Atoll in French Polynesia speared a grey reef shark. The shark reacted by biting them, causing non-lethal injuries. In another case, fishers entering fish traps ran into sharks that had become trapped.
Trying to spear them led to more defensive bites. One more case involved a scientist trying to handle a blacktip reef shark for research. When the shark was held incorrectly, it bit the scientist’s hand. These examples show that even non-aggressive actions from humans can trigger defensive responses from sharks.
Dr Clua said that some shark species, like the grey reef shark, are especially territorial and will act boldly if they feel someone has entered their space. He also added that people often don’t realize how cautious and even afraid sharks can be of humans. When they do bite, the force may seem extreme, but it’s just a quick survival reaction—not revenge or a desire to harm.
The study also points out a major problem in how these events are reported. Most of the time, the media refers to any shark bite as an “attack,” even when the bite was clearly defensive. This kind of reporting harms shark conservation efforts and spreads fear. For example, the 2016 bite incident involving the two fishermen was labeled an “attack” in the media, even though it was provoked by the humans’ actions.
This misunderstanding can damage the public image of sharks and make it harder to protect them. Since 1970, shark and ray populations have dropped by half due to overfishing and habitat loss. Fear-based reporting doesn’t help conservation work, which relies on people understanding that sharks are not always dangerous hunters.
Avoiding unnecessary interaction with sharks is the best way to prevent bites. Dr Clua advises people not to touch or handle sharks, even if they look calm or injured. Sharks can move quickly and bite if they feel threatened. Respecting their space is not only safer for humans but also helps protect the animals.
The new study shows the importance of understanding shark behaviour more deeply. Recognizing that some bites are defensive changes how we see these events and helps promote safer, more respectful human-shark interactions. Better media coverage and public awareness can also lead to better protection for sharks and the ocean environment they live in.
Sharks are not cold-blooded attackers. They are animals trying to survive in their habitat. By respecting them and changing the way we report shark incidents, we can help both humans and sharks live more safely together in the ocean.
