Tasmania, Australia is an island known for its stunning beaches and natural beauty.
The crystal-clear waters and white sandy shores make it a paradise for nature lovers.
From Wineglass Bay to Bay of Fires, Tasmania's beaches offer diverse experiences.
However, it's important to note the presence of sharks in the waters, including Great Whites, Tiger Sharks, and Bronze Whalers.
While shark attacks are rare, visitors should be cautious and follow safety guidelines when swimming or surfing.
By staying informed and avoiding swimming during dawn or dusk, visitors can enjoy Tasmania's beaches while respecting the natural habitat of these creatures.
Understanding our data at Tasmania
In our comprehensive overview of tasmania, the data presented in this article is compiled from a variety of public sources, providing a consolidated view of shark encounters by beach.
As you explore the data, it is important to note that while we have organized the information by specific areas, neighboring areas may also have their own detailed posts.
We encourage you to utilize the search function on our website to discover unique posts that may pertain to nearby locations.
Given the unpredictable and often chaotic circumstances surrounding shark attacks, some of the details within our tables have been inferred post-incident.
This is a common practice in the documentation of such events, due to factors like the rapid response required at the scene and the retrospective nature of assembling such data.
Our aim is to offer a resource that not only informs but also enhances awareness and safety practices for all who venture into the marine environment.
As you navigate through the information, we hope it serves as a reminder of the respect and caution that our florida beaches command.
Recorded Attack #1
Area
Tasmania
Location
Ralph Bay
Date
1960-02-29
Year
1960
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Australia
Activity
Wading, Fishing For Flounder
Name
Malcolm Robertson & Tom Hasler
Sex
M
Age
30 & 32
Injury
No Injury, Robertson Knocked Over & Hasler Brushed By A Shark
Fatal
N
Time
Night
Species
Two 2.1 M [7'] Sharks
Recorded Attack #2
Area
Tasmania
Location
N/A
Date
1955-12-31
Year
1955
Type
Watercraft
Country
Australia
Activity
Ocean Racing
Name
Yacht Even
Sex
N/A
Age
N/A
Injury
No Injury To Occupants, Shark Gouged Hull
Fatal
N
Time
N/A
Species
N/A
Recorded Attack #3
Area
Tasmania
Location
Flinders Island
Date
1949-08-16
Year
1949
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Australia
Activity
Swimming Near Shore
Name
Robert Kay
Sex
M
Age
18.0
Injury
Hip Lacerated
Fatal
N
Time
16H00
Species
N/A
Recorded Attack #4
Area
Tasmania
Location
Nettley Bay
Date
2016-02-10
Year
2016
Type
Invalid
Country
Australia
Activity
Surfing
Name
Male
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
No Injury, Knocked Off Board
Fatal
Unknown
Time
12H30
Species
No Shark Involvement
Recorded Attack #5
Area
Tasmania
Location
Whale Bay, King Island, Bass Strait
Date
1959-01-25
Year
1959
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Australia
Activity
Swimming With Motor Tube
Name
John Grave
Sex
M
Age
16.0
Injury
Thigh Bitten
Fatal
N
Time
N/A
Species
N/A
Recorded Attack #6
Area
Tasmania
Location
Wynyard
Date
1953-01-08
Year
1953
Type
Watercraft
Country
Australia
Activity
Fishing
Name
14-Foot Boat Sintra
Sex
N/A
Age
Make Line Green
Injury
No Injury To Occupant, Shark Charged Boat
Fatal
N
Time
Afternoon
Species
10' To 12' Shark
Recorded Attack #7
Area
Tasmania
Location
Derwent River
Date
N/A
Year
1870
Type
Invalid
Country
Australia
Activity
Canoeing
Name
Sub Lieut. Bowyer Of H.M.S. Chile
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
Shark Bit Canoe In Half & Bit Man. Note: There Is An Earlier Story Of Fatal Shark Attack In Same River
Fatal
Unknown
Time
N/A
Species
N/A
Recorded Attack #8
Area
Tasmania
Location
Binalong Bay
Date
2009-01-11
Year
2009
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Australia
Activity
Surfing
Name
Hannah Mighall
Sex
F
Age
13
Injury
Severe Lacerations To Right Leg
Fatal
N
Time
15H45
Species
White Shark, 5M
Recorded Attack #9
Area
Tasmania
Location
Elliot's Cove
Date
1972-02-12
Year
1972
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Australia
Activity
N/A
Name
D. Trayling
Sex
N/A
Age
N/A
Injury
Survived
Fatal
N
Time
N/A
Species
N/A
Recorded Attack #10
Area
Tasmania
Location
Smelting Works Bay Near Hobart
Date
1877-04-07
Year
1877
Type
Provoked
Country
Australia
Activity
N/A
Name
John Smart
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
Fingers Injured By Landed Shark Provoked Incident
Fatal
N
Time
N/A
Species
7-Gill Shark
Recorded Attack #11
Area
Tasmania
Location
Off Big Friar Island
Date
N/A
Year
1942
Type
Watercraft
Country
Australia
Activity
Fishing For Perch
Name
Storm King; Occupants - George Bridge & 2 Sons
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
No Injury To Occupants, Rudder Damaged By Shark
Fatal
N
Time
N/A
Species
N/A
Recorded Attack #12
Area
Tasmania
Location
Derwent River (Empties Into The Sea At Hobart)
Date
1890-01-01
Year
1890
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Australia
Activity
Wading
Name
Frederick Sampson Johnson
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
Knee Bitten
Fatal
N
Time
N/A
Species
Sevengill Shark, 14', Was Caught In The Vicinity
Recorded Attack #13
Area
Tasmania
Location
Clifton Beach
Date
2016-07-23
Year
2016
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Australia
Activity
Surfing
Name
Zebulon Critchlow
Sex
M
Age
36.0
Injury
Calf Bumped But No Injury
Fatal
N
Time
N/A
Species
N/A
Recorded Attack #14
Area
Tasmania
Location
Cape Pillar, Storm Bay
Date
1978-09-02
Year
1978
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Australia
Activity
Scuba Diving For Abalone
Name
Jim Scott
Sex
M
Age
34
Injury
Several Broken Ribs
Fatal
N
Time
N/A
Species
15' Shark
Recorded Attack #15
Area
Tasmania
Location
Off Tasman Island
Date
1961-01-02
Year
1961
Type
Watercraft
Country
Australia
Activity
Ocean Racing
Name
Yacht Southerly Buster
Sex
N/A
Age
N/A
Injury
No Injury To Occupants, Shark Struck Boat
Fatal
N
Time
N/A
Species
N/A
Recorded Attack #16
Area
Tasmania
Location
South Cape Bay
Date
1982-02-28
Year
1982
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Australia
Activity
Spearfishing
Name
Geert Talen
Sex
M
Age
32.0
Injury
Fatal, Body Not Recovered
Fatal
Y
Time
N/A
Species
5.5 M [18''] White Shark
Recorded Attack #17
Area
Tasmania
Location
Triabunna
Date
1943-06-16
Year
1943
Type
Watercraft
Country
Australia
Activity
Fishing For Cod
Name
A Dinghy, Occupant Neil Parker
Sex
M
Age
18
Injury
No Injury To Occupant, Shark Grabbed Rudder And Dragged The Dinghy Stern-First
Fatal
N
Time
N/A
Species
White Shark, 3.9 M, 550 Kg, Male
Recorded Attack #18
Area
Tasmania
Location
Between Port Arthur Penal Colony & Forestier Peninsula
Date
N/A
Year
1883
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Australia
Activity
Swimming / Escaping Imprisonment
Name
Owen
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
Fatal
Fatal
Y
Time
N/A
Species
N/A
Recorded Attack #19
Area
Tasmania
Location
Piccaninny Point, 10 Miles From Bicheno
Date
1966-12-31
Year
1966
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Australia
Activity
Fishing
Name
Alf Bosworth
Sex
M
Age
30.0
Injury
6 Laceration To Left Forearm
Fatal
N
Time
N/A
Species
2.1 M [7'] Shark
Recorded Attack #20
Area
Tasmania
Location
Chimney Point, George’S Bay
Date
1893-04-04
Year
1893
Type
Invalid
Country
Australia
Activity
Boat Capsized, Swimming Ashore
Name
Joseph Meredith
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
Fatal, Probable Drowning
Fatal
Unknown
Time
16H30
Species
Shark Involvement Prior To Death Unconfirmed
Recorded Attack #21
Area
Tasmania
Location
Tenth Island (King Island)
Date
1993-06-05
Year
1993
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Australia
Activity
Scuba Diving At Seal Colony
Name
Teresa Cartwright
Sex
F
Age
34.0
Injury
Fatal
Fatal
Y
Time
10H55
Species
5 M [16.5'] White Shark
Recorded Attack #22
Area
Tasmania
Location
Lachan Island, Mercury Passage
Date
2015-07-25
Year
2015
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Australia
Activity
Scallop Diving On Hookah
Name
Damien Johnson
Sex
M
Age
46.0
Injury
Fatal
Fatal
Y
Time
10H00
Species
White Shark, 3.9 To 4.2 M
Recorded Attack #23
Area
Tasmania
Location
Taroona
Date
1969-02-17
Year
1969
Type
Provoked
Country
Australia
Activity
Fishing
Name
George Pacey
Sex
M
Age
49
Injury
Lacerations To Hand From Hooked Shark Provoked Incident
Fatal
N
Time
Daytime
Species
7-Gill Shark
Recorded Attack #24
Area
Tasmania
Location
Shelly Point
Date
1989-10-22
Year
1989
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Australia
Activity
Surfing
Name
Steven Jillet
Sex
M
Age
17.0
Injury
No Injury, Board Bitten
Fatal
N
Time
14H20
Species
2.7 M [9'] White Shark
Recorded Attack #25
Area
Tasmania
Location
Maatsuyker Island
Date
2019-06-06
Year
2019
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Australia
Activity
Abalone Diving
Name
Male
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
Bumped By Shark But No Injury
Fatal
N
Time
N/A
Species
N/A
Recorded Attack #26
Area
Tasmania
Location
Tenth Island
Date
2020-07-29
Year
2020
Type
Watercraft
Country
Australia
Activity
Sightseeing
Name
5.5 M Runabout. Occupants: Sean & James Vinar
Sex
N/A
Age
N/A
Injury
No Injury To Occupants, Injury To Shark Attempting To Swallow Anchor
Fatal
Unknown
Time
09H08
Species
White Shark, 4M
Recorded Attack #27
Area
Tasmania
Location
Off Stanley
Date
2020-07-17
Year
2020
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Australia
Activity
Fishing
Name
Lucas Arnott
Sex
M
Age
10.0
Injury
Lacerations To Arm, Head & Chest
Fatal
N
Time
13H30
Species
White Shark
Recorded Attack #28
Area
Tasmania
Location
Barren Joey Island
Date
1993-04-01
Year
1993
Type
Invalid
Country
Australia
Activity
Spearfishing
Name
Tony Szolomiak
Sex
M
Age
32
Injury
No Injury
Fatal
Unknown
Time
N/A
Species
Invalid
Recorded Attack #29
Area
Tasmania
Location
Fluted Cape, Bruny Island
Date
1975-07-30
Year
1975
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Australia
Activity
Diving For Abalone (Scuba)
Name
Robert Slack
Sex
M
Age
37
Injury
Fatal
Fatal
Y
Time
Afternoon
Species
White Shark
Recorded Attack #30
Area
Tasmania
Location
Sweet Water Point, Pitt Water
Date
N/A
Year
1825
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Australia
Activity
Swimming
Name
Amphibious Jack Male
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
Fatal
Fatal
Y
Time
N/A
Species
N/A
Recorded Attack #31
Area
Tasmania
Location
N/A
Date
1959-08-30
Year
1959
Type
Invalid
Country
Australia
Activity
Swimming
Name
Ron Cox
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
No Injury
Fatal
Unknown
Time
N/A
Species
Invalid
Recorded Attack #32
Area
Tasmania
Location
George Town Cove
Date
1840-02-01
Year
1840
Type
Watercraft
Country
Australia
Activity
Sailing
Name
A Dinghy
Sex
N/A
Age
N/A
Injury
No Injury To Occupant, Shark Seized Stern Post
Fatal
N
Time
N/A
Species
N/A
Recorded Attack #33
Area
Tasmania
Location
Hobart
Date
1831-01-22
Year
1831
Type
Invalid
Country
Australia
Activity
Boat Capsized, Clinging To Line
Name
Robert Dudlow
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
Drowned, No Shark Involvement
Fatal
Unknown
Time
N/A
Species
Invalid
Recorded Attack #34
Area
Tasmania
Location
Tasman Island
Date
1972-08-08
Year
1972
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Australia
Activity
Diving For Abalone
Name
Gordon Johnson
Sex
M
Age
45
Injury
Left Foot Bitten
Fatal
N
Time
N/A
Species
White Shark, 10'
Recorded Attack #35
Area
Tasmania
Location
N/A
Date
1971-01-02
Year
1971
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Australia
Activity
Swimming
Name
Ralph Painter
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
Torso Lacerated
Fatal
N
Time
16H30
Species
N/A
Recorded Attack #36
Area
Tasmania
Location
Triabunna
Date
1950-01-01
Year
1950
Type
Watercraft
Country
Australia
Activity
Sitting On Side Of Dinghy Mending A Net
Name
Neil Drake
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
No Injury To Occupant, Shark Bit Side Of Dinghy
Fatal
N
Time
N/A
Species
White Shark, 3.6 M, 420 Kg Male
Recorded Attack #37
Area
Tasmania
Location
Near Schouten Island
Date
2008-12-27
Year
2008
Type
Watercraft
Country
Australia
Activity
Yacht Race
Name
Wild Oats Xi
Sex
N/A
Age
N/A
Injury
No Injury To Occupants - Shark Became Entangled In Aft Rudder
Fatal
N
Time
N/A
Species
2 M Shark
Recorded Attack #38
Area
Tasmania
Location
Clifton Beach, Southwest Of Hobart
Date
1992-02-09
Year
1992
Type
Invalid
Country
Australia
Activity
Surfing
Name
Wayne Fitzpatrick
Sex
M
Age
19.0
Injury
No Injury, Shark Allegedly Took His Surfboard & Slashed His Wetsuit. Shark Involvement Questionable
Fatal
Unknown
Time
19H30
Species
Questionable Incident
Recorded Attack #39
Area
Tasmania
Location
Badger Head
Date
1959-01-01
Year
1959
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Australia
Activity
Spearfishing / Free Diving
Name
Male
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
Abrasion
Fatal
N
Time
N/A
Species
1.5 M [5'] Shark
Recorded Attack #40
Area
Tasmania
Location
Beechford
Date
N/A
Year
1978
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Australia
Activity
Scuba Diving
Name
Colin Wrankmore
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
Thigh Bitten
Fatal
N
Time
N/A
Species
Sevengill Shark, 2.4 M
Recorded Attack #41
Area
Tasmania
Location
South Cape Bay
Date
2012-06-22
Year
2012
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Australia
Activity
Surfing
Name
James Barthy
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
Knocked Off Board, Shark Bit Nose Off Surfboard
Fatal
N
Time
N/A
Species
N/A
Recorded Attack #42
Area
Tasmania
Location
Eaglehawk Neck
Date
1960-01-07
Year
1960
Type
Watercraft
Country
Australia
Activity
Setting Crayfish Pots
Name
16' Boat, Occupant: W. Lonergan
Sex
N/A
Age
N/A
Injury
No Injury To Occupant, Shark Rammed Boat
Fatal
N
Time
09H00
Species
4.9 M [16'] Shark
Recorded Attack #43
Area
Tasmania
Location
Safety Cove
Date
1959-01-17
Year
1959
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Australia
Activity
In Deep Water About 100 Yards From His Ship
Name
Brian Derry, A Naval Rating
Sex
M
Age
22.0
Injury
Fatal
Fatal
Y
Time
16H30
Species
Said To Involve 2 Sharks: 5.2 M & 6 M [17' & 20']
Recorded Attack #44
Area
Tasmania
Location
Bridport
Date
1905-03-25
Year
1905
Type
Invalid
Country
Australia
Activity
Bathing
Name
Charles Taylor
Sex
N/A
Age
N/A
Injury
Fatal
Fatal
Unknown
Time
N/A
Species
Questionable
Check Out Some Of Our Other Shark Attack Posts
Here we have 5 posts going over some other nearby beaches where shark attacks have happened